Former Cup driver Jerry Nadeau still has passion for racing
Jerry Nadeau, pictured here in March 2003 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, retired from NASCAR with one Cup victory. // Jamie Squire, Getty Images
MOORESVILLE, N.C. - No doubt about it, former NASCAR driver Jerry Nadeau would jump at the opportunity to return to stock-car racing.
"I'm still trying to figure out what's next for me," Nadeau said. "I'm just a racer, I love to race and if I can come back in some capacity, I'll do that."
Sidelined since 2003 due to injuries suffered in a horrific crash in practice at Richmond International Raceway, the 38-year-old Danbury, Conn., native attended a fundraiser for former NASCAR crew chief "Suitcase" Jake Elder at Memory Lane Motorsports and Automotive Museum on Saturday.
Nadeau, who made a 177 starts during his seven year Cup career, still experiences numbness on the left side of his body resulting from the crash, but said he is cleared medically to race.
"I've kind of come accustomed to it. It's just something that I have to life with," Nadeau said. "But I'm fine. I can race and I still do my simulator all the time."
Nadeau's lone win on the Cup circuit came in the 2000 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway while driving for Hendrick Motorsports.
Nadeau has since helped current Cup driver David Gilliland with his career.
"He's the kid I helped out and we did a lot of simulation racing together. He's about the only guy I keep up with," Nadeau said.
Nadeau also has high hopes for fellow Connecticut native Joey Logano, who is competing in his Cup rookie season for Joe Gibbs Racing.
"I think he's a terrific kid with a lot of talent, but he's going to have his ups and downs," Nadeau said. "I wish I could help him out in some way, but I don't want to just call somebody up and scare them away. If it happens, it happens. He's a kid that [it] would be nice to sit down with and talk to."
