Kyle Busch, Brad Coleman and Jason Ratcliff combine to win NASCAR Nationwide Series

MIAMI, FL (November 23, 2010) – The Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 NASCAR Nationwide Series Team led by crew chief Jason Ratcliff with drivers Kyle Busch and Brad Coleman were honored as 2010 Team Owner Champions last night during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Awards Banquet at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

The team clinched the win over Penske’s No. 22 Dodge team with a season ending victory by Kyle Busch at Miami-Homestead Speedway on Saturday, putting the No. 18 Toyota up by 71 points for the year and claiming it’s third straight championship.

“It was obviously a tremendous blessing for us to have the opportunity to win another owner’s championship with Kyle and Brad in the car this year. Both of them did an outstanding job,” said crew chief Jason Ratcliff.

Busch credited part-time teammate Brad Coleman for helping win the title.

“We wouldn’t be here tonight if Brad hadn’t done his job and given us some good finishes,” he said of Coleman, who drove six of the year’s 35 races while Busch was off Cup racing. “He did a great job and kept us in it.”

Coleman couldn’t hide his delight. “It’s really good to have a backup driver like Kyle Busch,” he said, grinning. “I wasn’t sure who was going to pick up the slack this season when I decided not to run a full schedule but Kyle stepped in and did the job!”

The Miami-Homestead media center erupted at Coleman’s funny comments.

Winning the owners’ championship was a big deal for everyone on the team, including team owners J. D. Gibbs and Joe Gibbs.

“It’s a huge deal for us because it lets the crew say, ‘We’re the best,’ ” said J.D. Gibbs, team president. “It’s gratifying to see the team appreciated for doing their job so well. It’s a testimonial to the guys back at the shop.”

Team owner Joe Gibbs was elated. “We’re thrilled. I really appreciate Jason Ratcliff, the team here, Brad Coleman and Safeway Driving Schools. I also want to say thanks to Combos, Interstate Batteries and NOS. It’s really hard to put together a team like that to allow us to race in the Nationwide Series. But with Kyle Busch and Z-Line, we really appreciate it. We’re thrilled to be a part of it. J.D. (Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing president) works mostly on the Nationwide side, and I take the credit for it. In any case, it’s a thrill for us and I appreciate it. And Toyota. I really want to make sure that the championship here and what they’ve done for us, we couldn’t be up here if it wasn’t for Toyota. I really appreciate them.”

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will be off until the 2011 season takes the green flag at Daytona in February and the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Team will begin defense of their title.

For more info visit: www.joegibbsracing.com and www.bradcoleman.us

Practices 20th, qualifies 12th, finishes race 8th

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (October 24, 2010) – Brad Coleman blew the dust off of a two-month hiatus throughout the course of the weekend to drive the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Shore Lodge Toyota to an 8th place finish for the final NASCAR Nationwide Series race to ever be held at Gateway International Raceway.

Coleman’s final race of the 2010 season was a hard fought battle on a day filled with crashes and cautions throughout. He was able to avoid spinning cars and others problems to keep the car near the Top 10 for most of the race then finished strong to bring home the 8th position.

“It felt great to be back on the track and I am grateful to Shore Lodge in McCall, ID for the opportunity and to J.D. (Gibbs) and Steve (DeSouza) for putting me in the car and trusting me with our team lead,” said Coleman. “There is a lot of pressure coming in with all Kyle has done this season to put us up front and make sure I do all I can to protect the lead. I am hopeful we can work to complete the mission and win the championship. I know I couldn’t be teamed with anyone better than Kyle and Jason to get it done.”

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will be off next weekend before heading to Texas, Phoenix and Homestead for the final three events. Stay tuned as team leader Kyle Busch, Jason Ratcliff and Company try to seal the deal on the 2010 Owner’s Championship.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver takes owner’s championship lead to Gateway

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (October 20, 2010) – Brad Coleman will pilot the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Shore Lodge Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Speedway this Saturday.

Coleman will be making his sixth start of the season in the Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide Series No. 18 Toyota. In his five previous starts this season, Coleman has two top-10 and four top-15 finishes. Unfortunately his lone finish outside of the top 15 was this season’s first race at Gateway when he and teammate Matt DiBenedetto got together in a hard crash.

Coleman will seek to keep Joe Gibbs Racing’s lead in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Owner’s Championship race alive as he and teammate Kyle Busch have teamed to give the No. 18 Nationwide Toyota team a 119 point lead with just four races remaining. The No. 18 team captured both the driver and owner’s championship in 2009.

Gateway will also mark the first time that Shore Lodge will be on the No. 18 Toyota. Shore Lodge is a full-service all season boutique hotel located on the southern end of the beautiful Payette Lake in the heart of McCall, Idaho. Since 1948, Shore Lodge has been a premier family vacation destination for people who want to enjoy all the activities of the mountain west.

The Gateway 250 from Gateway International Raceway will be televised live by ESPN2 on Saturday, October 23 with coverage starting at 3 PM ET (race starts at 3:30 PM ET).

Joe Gibbs Racing driver takes the No.18 North of the Border

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (August 22, 2010) – Brad Coleman and Kyle Busch are teammates. Busch is arguably the hottest driver in NASCAR while Coleman continues to work for the opportunity to prove he can produce the same kind of results for Joe Gibbs Racing. The last time Coleman got in the driver’s seat he was setting up the car for Kyle to win at Iowa. Now he will take the 73 point lead and momentum Kyle and the No. 18 team have created to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the NAPA Auto Parts 200.

Coleman’s last road course outing was at Road America in June where he won the WIX Filter laps leader award and posted a sixth place finish. Busch took the same car to Watkins Glen two weeks ago and finished fifth. The 22 year-old believes the No. 18 car will also do well at Montreal.

“We’ve consistently run up front at Montreal and had some great races go bad when we were bit by others’ tough luck,” said Coleman. “I finished Top 10 there in my rookie season after being knocked out of the Top 5. I was running in the Top 5 last year as well until another driver knocked us out of the race. With a little luck, I know we can contend for a win and keep the No. 18 up front in owners’ points. Besides, any time you race with Jason Ratcliff as your crew chief you have a chance to win.”