Profile
I enjoy all sports, however, racing is at the top of my list!! My favorite NASCAR driver is Jeff Gordon. Here at the speedway my favorites are Bruce Quale and Steve Jones. I have been following Steve Jones since I was a kid; he is definitely an inspiration to my racing career. 2008 will be my 10th year out at the track. I would say that one of the biggest highlights to date would be taking the 2004 Pony Stock Championship. The biggest thing I have learned is that there is a lot more to it than just getting in a car and driving. Countless hours of work go into that car just to keep it out on the track on a weekly basis. It is definitely something that you have to devote a lot of time to.
In 1999 Jeramee decided to move up to the Street Stocks (now the Grand Nationals), so I got to drive the Thunder Stock for the whole year. That was an awesome year for Coates Racing. We both took Rookie of the Year in our classes. I finished 4th in points and Jeramee finished 8th.
I took the 2000 season off so I could spend some time with my family. It was a struggle having 2 cars out on the track, especially when Jeramee and I blew 2 engines a piece. Lots of time in the garage!!! I also spent a lot of time in 2000 to get some things together for the 2001 season, I was set on moving up to the Pony Stocks.
2001 I did move up to the Pony Stocks, I drove a Ford Pinto, one of 2 that were out there. The first night out was not the best, I got T-boned by the former track Champion, Mike Prara. I made it back out that night, he didn’t. I also learned a lot from some very good people whom I have a lot of respect for. Mike Prara (yes the one that I got in a wreck with) and Shawn Nice taught me so much as a rookie driver.
In 2002, I sold my Pinto and bought a Mustang. The car was a great piece. In the middle of the season I was 1 point away from 3rd place. Well, I got into a wreck and the rest of the season was history. So, instead of almost a 3rd place finish I went back to 5th. We made a great run for 3rd or 4th but just came up a little bit short.
In 2003 we got a new engine builder, his name is Roy Henderson. He is a national Champion in NHRA; he has been involved in racing for over 30 years. He decided to quit the driving part and stick to building engines. He has had 3 first place circle track cars, one that was an American Race Truck and 2 corvettes inCalifornia Roy
We had high expectations for 2004! We sold the Thunder Stock and focused on just the Pony Stock and the 5 Queen Bee races. I achieved my goal of taking the Championship and I am also the current track record holder with a time of 17.218.
We bought a used car in 2005; it was a Limited Late Model. The class we competed in was called the Pepsi Premier Series, which we will also compete in this year.
In 2006 we had Thompson Motorsports build us a new car, we unfortunately missed 1 race but still finished 6th in the points and got Most improved driver at the NASCAR banquet. We now know what it takes to take a championship. The 2004 championship was the first but not the last.
In 2007 we had a good fight for the Championship, but ended up 4th. My crew learned a lot about the car and how to adjust the car to my driving style…I would say I have the best crew out atMagic Valley Speedway
For 2008 we have stepped up our program a little more. We have a new crew member, Phillip Burgoyne, whom I have known since 6th grade. We also added a couple new, awesome sponsors. We are going to give one more run for the Championship.
Last I have a few people to thank. First I would like to thank 3 people who have helped me more than I can ever repay. Thank you Doug, Donna, and Gloria!!! Without you three, Greco Racing would have been a memory years ago. Thank you so much for EVERYTHING you do!! I would also like to thank Doug Wachal and my uncle Marvin Coates for introducing me to racing and trusting me to drive their cars. I would also like to thank my wife Misty and our two wonderful kids for putting up with me during the racing season. I know I’m a pain in the butt sometimes (she would probably say most of the time). Another huge thank you goes to my dad and step-mom, Jerry and Helen Greco; they have done so much for me, thank you!!!!! Tom Coates, Misty's dad, thank you for EVERYTHING you do! Sam Fowler, you have done more for us than imaginable…thanks for supporting our hobby that we have so much fun in and thanks for supporting us. I would also like to thank all of our sponsors; we couldn’t have done any of this without them. And last, but not least I would like to thank the fans at theMagic Valley Speedway
Oh ya, one last thing, always GO FAST, TURN LEFT, and NEVER GIVE UP
Thank you to my pit crew:
In 1999 Jeramee decided to move up to the Street Stocks (now the Grand Nationals), so I got to drive the Thunder Stock for the whole year. That was an awesome year for Coates Racing. We both took Rookie of the Year in our classes. I finished 4th in points and Jeramee finished 8th.
In 2003 we got a new engine builder, his name is Roy Henderson. He is a national Champion in NHRA; he has been involved in racing for over 30 years. He decided to quit the driving part and stick to building engines. He has had 3 first place circle track cars, one that was an American Race Truck and 2 corvettes in
We had high expectations for 2004! We sold the Thunder Stock and focused on just the Pony Stock and the 5 Queen Bee races. I achieved my goal of taking the Championship and I am also the current track record holder with a time of 17.218.
We bought a used car in 2005; it was a Limited Late Model. The class we competed in was called the Pepsi Premier Series, which we will also compete in this year.
In 2006 we had Thompson Motorsports build us a new car, we unfortunately missed 1 race but still finished 6th in the points and got Most improved driver at the NASCAR banquet. We now know what it takes to take a championship. The 2004 championship was the first but not the last.
In 2007 we had a good fight for the Championship, but ended up 4th. My crew learned a lot about the car and how to adjust the car to my driving style…I would say I have the best crew out at
For 2008 we have stepped up our program a little more. We have a new crew member, Phillip Burgoyne, whom I have known since 6th grade. We also added a couple new, awesome sponsors. We are going to give one more run for the Championship.
Last I have a few people to thank. First I would like to thank 3 people who have helped me more than I can ever repay. Thank you Doug, Donna, and Gloria!!! Without you three, Greco Racing would have been a memory years ago. Thank you so much for EVERYTHING you do!! I would also like to thank Doug Wachal and my uncle Marvin Coates for introducing me to racing and trusting me to drive their cars. I would also like to thank my wife Misty and our two wonderful kids for putting up with me during the racing season. I know I’m a pain in the butt sometimes (she would probably say most of the time). Another huge thank you goes to my dad and step-mom, Jerry and Helen Greco; they have done so much for me, thank you!!!!! Tom Coates, Misty's dad, thank you for EVERYTHING you do! Sam Fowler, you have done more for us than imaginable…thanks for supporting our hobby that we have so much fun in and thanks for supporting us. I would also like to thank all of our sponsors; we couldn’t have done any of this without them. And last, but not least I would like to thank the fans at the
Oh ya, one last thing, always GO FAST, TURN LEFT, and NEVER GIVE UP
Thank you to my pit crew:
