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Jerry Nadeau To
Drive Valvoline Pontiac Until Benson’s Return
Jerry Nadeau will race the #10 Valvoline Pontiac Saturday in
the Winston Open
in Charlotte and remain behind the wheel until Johnny
Benson’s return from the
broken rib he suffered in a Busch Series race on May 3 at
Richmond.
"I certainly wish it could be under better circumstances but
I’m excited to run
the Winston Open with the Valvoline team," said Nadeau.
"They won the pole and the Open last year and I know they
want to do the same again this year. That’s certainly my
goal. If we can get through the Open then it’s on to the
Winston where just about anything can happen and usually
does."
Nadeau, 31, and Hendrick Motorsports ended their 3-year
relationship on May 8. The highlight of Nadeau’s tenure at
Hendrick came on Nov. 20, 2000 when he won at Atlanta Motor
Speedway in the #25 Monte Carlo. In addition to the Atlanta
victory, the Danbury, Conn. native has four starts on the
front row in Winston Cup competition.
Jay Frye, General Manager for the Valvoline team, said the
team and its owners
wanted Nadeau as Benson’s replacement as soon as they
learned he was available.
"We had talked to some others but Jerry is the guy we jumped
at when we heard that he could drive for us," Frye said.
"Jerry drove the #36 car for us when
Ernie Irvan was hurt back in 1999 and got along with
everyone here really well.
He’ll fit in without a problem."
Benson said he supports the selection of Nadeau, but wishes
it wasn’t
necessary.
"I don’t like being a spectator," Benson said. "The Open is
a race I wanted to
race because we won it last year, but getting well is my
main goal right now. I
like Jerry and trust him with our car so it isn’t going to
be hard to root for
Jerry to do well, but it still won’t be as much fun as
driving.
"Our paint scheme is pretty cool but I’d rather spend the
race looking at the
car’s interior. I don’t know when I will return. Everybody
keeps telling me it
is better to take my time and get healed instead of rushing
back. I’m pretty
much going to listen to what the doctors say and what my
body says."
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