Gene Coleman Named Grand Marshal of 10th Bigley Memorial

UARA Officials are excited to announce that Gene Coleman, founder of Coleman Machine and Coleman Racing Products, will serve as the honorary grand marshal of the 10th Annual Bill Bigley, Sr. Memorial 128 at the Freedom Factory on November 29th, 2025.

While searching for the right person for this job, officials looked to their very own core roots, looking for someone who truly cares about short track racing and the people in it as well as someone who is in a constant pursuit of making racing great. We landed on Gene Coleman and we're ecstatic he accepted the honor.

Coleman, a Menominee, Michigan native and a member of the Norway Speedway and Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame has been and still is an ambassador for short track racing for nearly 62 years.

Gene's personal racing included stints in USAC competition as well as modifieds and late models throughout Canada, Michigan and Wisconsin areas. Coleman even had his hand in track promoting as a partner at Sands Speedway as well as Kinross Speedway.

Even with all the accolades in the seat, Gene Coleman is likely best known for his innovations in the motorsports industry through Coleman Machine & Coleman Racing Products. Under Gene's watch, Coleman Racing Products designed some of the truly innovative parts we still use every day such as directional vane rotors, the quick release steering wheel hub and aluminum driveshafts.

Gene remains active in the sport helping design new parts and servicing the short track industry while also fielding rides throughout the years to drivers such as his son, Dickie Coleman as well as Johnny, Travis, and Tim Sauter, Kevin Cywinski, Dalton Zehr, Troy Nelson, Braison Bennett and more.

-UARA Racing Release