Joe Gibbs Racing driver Brad Coleman’s search for sponsorship for his NASCAR Nationwide Series races in the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota this season yielded an unexpected opportunity that blossomed into both a business acquisition and sponsorship for his first race of the year at Nashville Superspeedway on June 5 from SafeWay Driving Centers. The 22 year-old Texan has made the most of his relationship with several NASCAR Partners to acquire one of Texas’ largest driving school companies. When visiting his hometown of Houston over the Thanksgiving holidays last year, Coleman stopped by SafeWay Driving Centers, where he had received his Texas drivers license when he was 16. A visit with then owner and company founder Gene Walker about the prospects of sponsoring one of the schools’ most famed graduates ultimately compelled Coleman to return to Charlotte with the idea of buying the 37-year-old chain of driving schools.(SafeWay PR)(5-28-2010)
