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Coleman to leave Gibbs Racing for full-time ride

By: Associated Press | Thursday, October 25, 2007 3:18 AM PDT ∞

Joe Gibbs Racing has lost one of its much-admired group of "Young Guns," with 19-year-old Brad Coleman set to leave the team at the end of the 2007 season to become a full-time driver with Brewco Motorsports in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, currently the Busch Series.

"It looked like things were shaping up for a full-time run for the championship with JGR in 2008 but, after the Gibbs Cup drivers had filled the sponsored Nationwide seats, there was no room left for a full season," Coleman explained. "It would have been difficult for me to run another partial season in 2008 because I want to be in the race car every weekend and I am thankful for Brewco and (sponsor) Kleenex providing me that opportunity."

Coleman will take over the No. 27 Ford Fusion that has been shared during the past two seasons by Nextel Cup drivers Greg Biffle, Robby Gordon, Jamie McMurray and Ward Burton.

Brewco, recently bought by a new ownership group, plans to shift from weekly driver changes to one driver and make a run at the Nationwide championship.

Force at home

After 27 days at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force has returned to his home in Southern California to continue his rehabilitation.

The 58-year-old crashed at more than 300 mph at Texas Motorplex on Sept. 23. He had a compound fracture of the left ankle, broken right foot, broken fingers on his right hand, ligament and tendon damage to the right knee, and a badly dislocated left wrist.

He will continue to undergo physical therapy at home in anticipation of returning to competition in 2008.