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Coleman "The Iceman" Gulick, 3rd generation racer, seemed destined to race even before he was born. Coleman was born in Columbus, OH. When Coleman's Mother Jill was pregnant with him, she and his Father, DIRT Pro Stock Driver Pete Gulick, used to attend the races at Columbus Motor Speedway. When the cars would take the green, Coleman would start to move around inside his Mothers womb. His parents at first thought it was startling the baby but have since learned that he was simply practicing for his career of choice.
When Coleman was 4, Santa Claus brought Coleman a Go-Kart for Christmas. Coleman was so small that his father had to tape 2x4's to the bottom of his snow boots so he could reach the pedals and he needed to sit on his favorite green pillow to get him close enough to the steering wheel. It wasn't long before his parents nicely mowed front yard looked like a Saturday night Dirt Track. Coleman made a track that he and his brother, Grant would hold their own "Feature Races". Showing a "No Fear" approach to racing his big brother, Coleman would go through a set of tires on his new Go-Kart within the first few weeks.
Coleman's parents decided to see if their "Wild Child"could take his enthusiasm for speed to an organized racing group and be competitive. In 1999, Coleman started racing Microds at Little Wheels Raceway in Freeville, NY. Little Wheels Raceway, owned and operated by Alex J. Burgess, is a track where families can rent a Microd for the season to see if their child enjoys racing before they make the investment in owning a Microd. The youngest in the group of racers, Coleman would win 7 of the 13 feature races he entered. He showed an aggressive yet controlled demeanor behind the wheel.
In 2000, Coleman moved to Southern Tier Microd Club in Candor, NY to race his newly purchased Microd. Again, the youngest in the group, Coleman would win 4 of the 8 races he entered finishing second in points despite missing two points races during the season. In 2001, he moved up to the Novice Open Wheel Class, an Open Wheel class of cars that are similar to a USAC Sprint car just smaller. In his Rookie year, Coleman claimed 4 feature wins and became the 2001 Track Champion, again the youngest in his group. Also that year Coleman Won the only Quarter Midget Feature he entered as a member of the Fulton (NY) Quarter Midget Club.
In 2002, Coleman returned to defend his Championship at Southern Tier Microd Club. In addition, Coleman would compete in the NYSMA (New York State Microd Association) Tour Series. At Southern Tier, Coleman won an astonishing 9 of 11 features and the 2002 track Championship. Coleman also became the NYSMA Tour Series State Champion by winning all 4-feature races held at Sodus Point (Rochester, NY), Syracuse Microd Club, Mid-State (Cortland, NY) and his home track of Southern Tier Microd Club. In all, Coleman racked up 13 wins in the 15 feature events he entered.
In 2003, Coleman and his family decided to make the long trip each week to Syracuse from Binghamton to become members of the Syracuse Microd Club. Syracuse, long known for being the most challenging track of the NYSMA tracks, presented Coleman with his biggest Challenge for two reasons. First, it is the toughest track and Coleman was moving up 2 divisions to the most competitive class in NYSMA, Stock Open Wheel.
Again the youngest to compete in his class in the Stock Open Wheel division of NYSMA, Coleman took little time to adjust. Coleman would win 2 of the 9 races he entered at the Syracuse Microd Club ending up 4th and 2nd in the spring and Summer Series Events respectively. Also, Coleman would win 2 of the 4 NYSMA Tour Series races he entered; picking up feature wins at his home track of Syracuse and the first ever NYSMA Family Invitational at Tioga Motorsports Park in Owego, NY. In addition, at the annual NYSMA Banquet, Coleman was honored by his peers, being named the State's Most Improved Open Wheel Driver for 2003. Coleman earned his nickname the Iceman from his "cool"demeanor both in and out of the car. He also models himself after his racing hero, another cool customer, 7 Time DIRT Modified Champion Brett Hearn.
In 2004, Coleman joined the IMCRA, International Mini-Cup Racing Association, to further pursue his goal of racing full time in the NASCAR Circuit one day. These cars are ½ scale of their Nascar big brothers. Coleman also joined the Long Island Mini Cup Association out of Long Island, New York, one of the top sanctioning groups in the Mini Cup Ranks. Coleman won his first feature ever entered at Mountain Speedway in Pennsylvania. Coleman enjoyed another Feature Win at the Adirondack International Speeday in Upstate New York. In July of 2004, Coleman finished 2nd in the only IMCRA National at Concord Motorsports Park in Concord, North Carolina.
In June 2004, Coleman made his Dirt Debut piloting a 2004 King Motorsports 270 Micro Sprint. Gary King of King Motorsports assisted in tutoring Coleman as he made his way into the highly competitive, national venue. Coleman, after practiciing for the first time in his Micro Sprint, got out of the car and told his Dad, "Sell my other cars, I want to go Micro Sprint racing!". He competed at Greenwood Valley Speedway outside of Bloomsburg, PA during his rookie campaign. He won his first race on September 4, 2004.
In January and February of 2005, Coleman moved into the ultra competitive 600 Micro Sprint class competing in the Pepsi Mid-America Challenge at the "Mini Magic Mile" at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois. Once again the youngest in the event, Coleman raced at a high level with the likes of Kevin Bayer, 600 Micro Sprint National Champion, Kerry Kinser, Nephew of "The King", Steve Kinser and USAC Driver Brad Loyet. On May 21, 2005 Coleman won his first 600 Micro Sprint Race. Perhaps Coleman's biggest accomplishment in his young career came on June 26, 2005 when he won both the 270 Open Feature and the 600 Feature on the same night! A first for both Coleman and the Track.
In 2006, Coleman was the youngest ever to drive a 800+ Horsepower Sprint Car at tracks from East Bay, FL, Martinsville, VA and Lock Haven, PA. Coleman will also compete in the Mini Sprint Ranks in Lawrenceburg, IN and throughout the Northeast. Coleman also signed a Pro-Am Contract with Hazardous Sports of Chicago, IL to be their Northeastern US representative.
In May of 2006, Coleman competed at The Famous Lawrencburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, Indiana in the American Mini Sprint Assocation Nationals. Coleman was the top finishing Out of State competitor with his 3rd and 6th place finishes during the weekend event. Coleman would garner a lot of attention from Teams and Scouts with his ability to drive smoothly and clean while being a threat to win.
On September 16, 2006, Coleman became the Youngest 410 Sprint Car Feature Winner in History when he won The A-Main on Championship Night at Clinton County Speedway in Lock Haven, PA. At the same time, Coleman wrapped up a 4th place finish in the point standings in his true Rookie Year at the Speedway. It was a season that saw Coleman finish outside the top 10 only once, while bringing home 12 top 10's, 7 top 5's and 1 Feature Win. He ran most of the season at 12 years old!
In 2008, at the suggestion of a National Racing Scout, Coleman and his Team moved to Brownsburg, Indiana to pursue racing in the ultra competitive 410 Non Wing Sprint Cars. Coleman quickly garnered attention when he won the A Main Feature Event in mid July at the newly configured Lawrenceburg, Indiana Speedway at the age of 14. He was then signed by Legendary Car Owner Dr. John Deuel of Phoenix, Arizona to drive Dr. John's Dirt and Asphalt Silver Crown Entries. In his first 3 events, Coleman completed 3 straight Top 10 Finishes at Phoenix International Raceway and Iowa Speedway. A late race incident cost Coleman his 4th straight top 10 while competing in his first ever Hoosier 100. During his 2 years in Indiana Racing, Coleman has become one of the winningest drivers on the newly configured Lawrenceburg Speedway.
In April of 2010 at just 16 Years of age, Coleman gained much respect from NASCAR Legend Ken Schrader and his Crew Chief Donnie Richeson while testing for Ken Schrader Racing at Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina. Coleman turned faster laps than the previous two drivers for KSR, both of whom now race in ARCA and the NASCAR Nationwide Series. KSR and CGR have since started discussions on how to proceed into the future with the hopes of Coleman piloting KSR entries in the future.
The future for young Coleman continues to look bright because of his dedication to the sport and the dedication of his friends, supporters, sponsors and family. Perhaps he will get the chance he dreams of: competing one day in NASCAR.
