R3 Motorsports has signed driver Coleman Pressley to a multiple race deal for the 2010 Nationwide Series season.
Pressley, 21, of Asheville, N.C., is the son of former Cup, Nationwide and Truck series driver Robert Pressley. Coleman is also the grandson of Bob Pressley, a multiple-NASCAR short track champion in the late-model ranks.
Pressley will drive the No. 23 Chevrolet at Bristol in March, Richmond in April and Darlington in May. If more sponsorship can be attained, then Pressley will add more races to his schedule with R3 Motorsports.
The third-generation NASCAR driver has already made a name for himself in the Late Model ranks. At age 16, he won rookie of the year honors at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway in 2005 en route to a total of 20 wins in four years. He's the two-time winner of the Prestigious Bobby Isaac Memorial and the inaugural Banjo Mathews 150 winner at Hickory.
Robert Richardson Jr. remains the primary driver for the team. He and Pressley tested together at Motor Mile (Va.) Speedway in February with successful results.
"After doing the test session with Robert and seeing how the guys on the team operate, I can't wait to race one of R3's Chevrolets," Pressley said. "The car handled great, had good speed and felt great underneath me. I am going to make the most out of this opportunity and hope to be able run some more races with them.
"Everyone on the team was very helpful during the test and I felt comfortable with them right away. Working with Steve Plattenberger is going to be pretty cool because he worked with my dad, too. I got a small taste of what the Nationwide Series was about last year, and now I want to run a whole race to earn a good finish."
In 2009, Pressley made five Nationwide starts earning a career-best start of 13th at Richmond.
At age six, he began racing go karts under the tutelage of his father. By age eight, he had won a Peach State championship in Bandolero cars. Moving up to the Legends by 11, he won more races before jumping into Late Models at age 16 where he continued his winning endeavors.
Robert Richardson Sr., owner of R3 Motorsports, feels the addition of Pressley brings another element to the building of R3 Motorsports.
"Our goals this year are to run a full season and become a more competitive team in the Nationwide Series," Richardson said. "Robert Jr. and I talked about what it would take, and he agreed to step out of the seat for a few races if it meant we got to add more races to our schedule. We're still looking to fill out the remainder of the 2010 season for our car.
"In my talks with Coleman's dad, it quickly became apparent we are on the same page and would work well together. I'm looking forward to having Coleman run some competitive races for R3 Motorsports this year."
