Nadeau Survives Track, No Communication In 18th place Run At NHIS

#10 Valvoline Pontiac driver Jerry Nadeau spent most of Sunday’s race on the
treacherous surface of New Hampshire International Speedway without the ability to talk to his spotter or his crew chief.

Throw in the fact that Nadeau endured brake problems and it figured to be a
very long day for the Danbury, Conn. native on the mile oval.

But it was a good day.

Nadeau led about 35 laps, sported one of the fastest cars and appeared headed
for at least a top ten finish until he was shuffled out of the pack in the
closing laps and crossed the finish line in 18th.

Still, Nadeau wanted even more.

"The car was good enough to win. But, when you don't have any communication
between the crew chief and the driver (lost radio communication), what are you
going to do? I had no spotter the last 100 laps (lost radio communication).
It's just a tough deal.”

Nadeau started the race in 15th and moved up to 10th. Then a lap 60 near
collision with members of the Kurt Busch crew slowed the pit stop to 19 seconds and dropped Nadeau back to 26th.

That’s when Crew Chief James Ince embarked on his own pit stop strategy that
called for topping off the Valvoline Pontiac at the next caution. Although
Nadeau dropped back to about 31st he reclaimed all those positions when he
moved to second on lap 129 by not pitting while others did.

“Jerry you will have to drive fast and smart and just make sure you keep the
fenders on it,” said Ince while the team still had communications with Nadeau.
“This could all work out into our favor at the end of the race.”

Nadeau quickly passed eventual winner Ward Burton and claimed the lead for 12 laps - the first laps led of the season for the Valvoline Pontiac. While
holding the lead, Nadeau turned some of the fastest times on the track.

"Everything was pit strategy - getting guys up front,” he said. “We led some
laps today. We used some good pit strategy.”

Nadeau returned to the pits on lap 124 and dropped back to 24th place, but once again he climbed back to the front by not pitting on lap 160. He led 23 laps on this stint and only Matt Kennseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. passed him on the track.

“We were looking pretty good then,” he said. “I thought for sure we would end
up with at least a top five finish.”

Nadeau came back to the pits on lap 190 and returned to the track in 18th. He
worked his way up to 11th and took two tires on lap 234 while several others
gambled on stretching their fuel mileage.

Unfortunately there were enough cautions in the closing laps to allow those
gambling to finish the race without stopping. Nadeau’s chance for a top 10 went
away in the closing laps when the treacherous track that claimed so many
victims allowed others to pass him when he slipped in a corner.

Throughout the day several drivers crashed because the pavement coming up
during the race. Few had any compliments for the racing surface.

Nadeau joined the crowd of drivers voicing their displeasure. Seven cautions
flew in the first 123 laps -- all for accidents.

"The track was absolutely junk. It's the worst racetrack I've ever raced on -
no matter if I live up in New England or not. It's junk. I hate it. I love the
Bahre family. They are great people. But, it's not a place to race on. The
sealer was coming up. There were marbles. They had to sweep it every 20 laps
and then the first three laps...everybody was absolutely all over the place.
You couldn't get any grip. It just wasn't a good racetrack to race on.”

Considering the obstacles he overcame it wasn’t a bad day for Nadeau who is
substituting for the injured Johnny Benson who broke three ribs at Daytona. The
Valvoline team is expected to evaluate Benson this week and setting a schedule for his return to racing.

The Valvoline team will race at Pocono next Sunday.

1 Ward Burton
2 Jeff Green
3 Dale Jarrett
4 Rusty Wallace
5 Ryan Newman *
6 Todd Bodine
7 Robby Gordon
8 Kurt Busch
9 Kevin Harvick
10 Elliott Sadler
11 Jimmy Spencer
12 Jeff Burton
13 Bobby Labonte
14 Sterling Marlin
15 Jimmie Johnson *
16 Mark Martin
17 Ricky Rudd
18 Jerry Nadeau
19 Jeremy Mayfield
20 Michael Waltrip
21 Ricky Craven
22 Terry Labonte
23 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
24 Ken Schrader
25 John Andretti
26 Bobby Hamilton
27 Brett Bodine
28 Steve Grissom
29 Jeff Gordon
30 Stacy Compton
31 Hut Stricklin
32 Steve Park
33 Matt Kenseth
34 Bill Elliott
35 Dave Blaney
36 Casey Atwood
37 Kyle Petty
38 Mike Skinner
39 Tony Stewart
40 Morgan Shepherd
41 Joe Nemechek
42 Kirk Shelmerdine
43 Geoffrey Bodine