History Making Young Race Car Driver visits Nemours Children's Clinic
Brad Coleman made history on March 19, 2004 for being the youngest driver to race in the Star Mazda Pro Formula Series. The day before his big race he visited patients at Nemours Children's Clinic in Florida at Orlando.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) March 21, 2004
Inspiring children is just as important as being a self inspired teen to break racing records. On Thursday March 18, 2004 Nemours Children’s Clinic-Florida at Orlando will welcome pioneering teen driver Brad Coleman to their clinic. “Brad’s visit will definitely brighten the day for many of our patients,” said Gidget Ruscetta, Associate Administrator for Nemours Children’s Clinic-Florida at Orlando.
Coleman, will make history as the youngest driver to race in the Star Mazda Pro Formula Series on Friday, March 19th at Sebring International Raceway, in Sebring Florida only three weeks after celebrating his 16th birthday. During his visit to Nemours, Coleman will spend the morning signing autographs and speaking with patients. “It is a wonderful treat to have Brad offer to spend time visiting our clinic as busy as his racing schedule is,” said Mark Swanson, MD, Pediatrician-In-Chief and Medical Director at Nemours Children’s Clinic-Florida at Orlando.
The young driver became the first 14 year-old in the U. S. to earn a professional racing license, and is set to take the reins of a 170MPH open-wheel race car at the famed Florida circuit. Coleman logged over 20,000 test miles racing cars before he was old enough to get his Texas Driver’s License a few weeks ago. “My total focus is to race in the Indianapolis 500 one day, and then follow that with a NASCAR Cup race”, said Coleman. Along with his open-wheel racing circuit endeavors, he is also training in Stock Cars to be equally prepared for any opportunities that may arise on the American racing scene.
At the age of 12, Coleman was discovered at an indoor karting center in Houston, Texas by racing legend Price Cobb, who immediately recommended he join the ranks of the worldÂ’s best young drivers in the sport of high-speed karting. So far, Coleman has won three karting series season championships in his Rookie season and went on to race in the Formula Fran-Am Pro Series last year where he finished fourth for the season and garnered his second Rookie of the Year Award.
“The first time I saw him drive I was stunned. This kid is one gifted talent.” noted Cobb; Le Mans Champion, Team Owner and now Brad’s Driving Coach. “The only thing I could credit it to is his God given talent and the wealth of time he spent practicing on racing simulator games as a kid.”
Coleman will be available to the media following his visit. Please contact Natashia Ford, Public Relations Manager for Nemours ChildrenÂ’s Clinic-Florida at Orlando at (407) 650-7044 to arrange for an interview.
About Nemours:
Nemours provides institutions and services to improve the health of children. Employing 445 subspecialty physicians and surgeons, Nemours cared for more than 227,603 children during more than 884,093 patient visits in 2003, making Nemours one of the nation's largest pediatric subspecialty group practices.
In addition to the many ongoing research and educational programs, Nemours owns and operates the internationally renowned Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware, and major childrenÂ’s specialty centers in Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr), New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees) and several primary care pediatric practices throughout Delaware. The most visited health care web site online for children and teens, www. kidshealth. org is a project of Nemours.
Nemours is affiliated with the Mayo Clinic, Thomas Jefferson University, University of Florida, University of Delaware, Christiana Care Health System, Baptist Medical Center (Wolfson Children's Hospital), Orlando Regional Medical Center (Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women) and Sacred Heart ChildrenÂ’s Hospital. Additional information can be found at www. nemours. org.