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Nadeau returns as consultant

Posted by Zeos on 2/25/2006, 11:21 am
Message modified by board administrator 3/1/2006, 2:08 pm

Nadeau returns as consultant
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM
February 17, 2006
08:25 PM EST (01:25 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Whether or not Jerry Nadeau will ever return to the wheel of a NASCAR racecar in competition remains to be seen, but he's lined up this season as a consultant for a new Busch Series team.
Nadeau still entertains hope of making a complete comeback from a head injury he suffered in a crash during practice at Richmond International Raceway in spring 2003, but in the interim he'll work with former NASCAR West Series Rookie of the Year David Gilliland and Clay Andrews Racing .
Nadeau is already working for the team for which Gilliland, 29 and the son of former West Series champion Butch Gilliland is driving. They plan to make their 2006 debut on Feb. 25 at the California Speedway in the Stater Bros. 300
"I've been waiting for the right opportunity to make a return to the sport I love," Nadeau said. "I feel that this is it. Clay and general manager Rich Gautreau have put together a winning team in a very short time.
"I really want to help this team grow [so] this is also a great chance to work with a very promising driver. David is a very mature driver with a lot of talent [and] hopefully I can give him that extra guidance to run up front."
Nadeau competed in the Winston Cup Series for seven years with more than 170 starts. He one win, at Atlanta Motor Speedway; 19 top-10; and nine top-five finishes in his career.
"This is pretty special for me," David Gilliland said. "I'm going to be a rookie this season, but I think a person of Jerry's talents can really accelerate the learning curve.
"He is a winner, and has proven that in and out of a race car. I'm really looking forward to working with him."
Andrews Racing has acquired a 28,000-square-foot race shop in Statesville, N.C. In addition to Nadeau's advisory capacity, Andrews has hired former Cup crew chief Billy Wilburn to serve in that role plus the former head of Hendrick Motorsports' chassis shop, Eddie Dickerson.