Coleman signs Cup deal with Hall of Fame Racing

FORT WORTH, Texas -- While a string of Cup veterans are standing in NASCAR's unemployment line, praying for a ride next season, rookie Brad Coleman has two.

Only a few short weeks after signing for a full-time ride with Brewco Motorsports in the Busch Series, Coleman has turned around and signed another contract to go Cup racing in 2008 with Hall of Fame Racing.

The 19-year-old Texas native has agreed to become a full-time test driver for the team and run at least seven Cup races at the end of the 2008 season; meaning Hall of Fame will add a second car along side the No. 96 piloted by J.J. Yeley.

"I'm just extremely grateful" said Coleman, who is still under contract to run additional Busch Series races with Joe Gibbs Racing until the end of the season. "I know I will be more than prepared to go Cup racing under the excellent program Hall of Fame is putting together for me. I really admire the vision they have for the second car."

Following proper development, Coleman will pilot the Cup ride at Hall of Fame Racing full time in 2009, although a sponsor and number for the entry has yet to be determined.

Team officials at Hall of Fame Racing said they had been scouting Coleman for the past six months. They collected pertinent data about the teenager, on and off the track, that will help determine the future of its second car.

"We saw a lot of raw talent in Brad, and he has the kind of character we want to build a program around and watch grow," said Tom Garfinkel, team owner and executive vice president of the Arizona Diamondbacks. "He is willing to listen, he's respectful and that's the platform you need for a successful team."

In 16 races to date, Coleman has posted three top-fives, five top-10s, seven top-15s and nine top-20s, winning the pole at Talladega and posting the highest finishing average of any non-Cup experienced driver in the series.

For most of the season, he has been one of the youngest drivers on the track racing along side a slew of Nextel Cup stars.

Before transitioning to Hall of Fame, Coleman will finish out his part-time Busch series contract with Joe Gibbs Racing this season. Next season, he will step in to pilot a full-time ride Busch ride for the No. 27 Ford at Brewco Motorsports, a contract signed a couple of weeks before his contract with Hall of Fame Racing.

Signing his Cup contract with Hall of Fame Racing was truly a treat for the young driver, who in September feared he may not have a ride at all.

"It's amazing how God works," Coleman said.

And how Hall of Fame works equally impresses the driver.

Coleman said team representatives made a special trip to Memphis, Tenn., where he was finishing up his most recent Busch race, to sign the contract together.

Both parties met at the airport and Coleman was given a special Diamondbacks jersey and then flown home to Huntersville, N.C. on a private jet.

"They watched my race from the jet at the airport, it was pretty cool," said Coleman, who will watch Sunday's Cup race at the Texas Motor Speedway with his new crew from the Hall of Fame Racing pits.

More than that, Coleman said he admires the camaraderie of the team. On Wednesday, he traveled to the Hall of Fame Racing shop in Charlotte, N.C., to meet the team when he heard live music pouring from the back of the garage.

An avid music lover and guitarist, Coleman went to check it out. Sure enough, a crew guy was on the drums while another was strumming a guitar.

"I thought 'wow, I could really see this becoming my home for a long time,'" he said.

Coleman then picked up an extra guitar and started playing a few beats from ZZ Top.