HMS And Jerry Nadeau Agree To Part Ways

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) and driver Jerry Nadeau have mutually agreed to part ways, effectively ending Nadeau’s stint with the No. 25 NASCAR Winston Cup Series team it was announced today by company president John Hendrick. “Jerry has shown some flashes of brilliance while driving for us over the past two and a half years,” said Hendrick. “As a team, we just have not been able to find the kind of consistency that it takes to be successful in this ever-increasingly competitive sport.” Hendrick said that no one has been chosen to fill the vacancy, although a search is currently under way. “Both Hendrick Motorsports and myself as a driver are dedicated to the same goal -- winning races,” said the 31-year-old Nadeau. “But after we sat down and evaluated the situation, it was obvious that we were not making the kind of progress we owe our fans and sponsors and decided it would be best to go our separate ways.” Nadeau is currently 28th in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver standings, but has been ranked as high as seventh since joining HMS at the beginning of 2000. The Danbury, Conn., native finished his first year with the No. 25 team by winning the season-ending NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With HMS, Nadeau posted seven top-five finishes, 15 top-10s and two outside pole positions in 81 points events. Hendrick did not indicate whether a permanent driver would be named or if a replacement would join the No. 25 team on an interim basis to finish out the 2002 campaign. “It may be in our best interests not to name a permanent replacement until the end of the season when we have a clearer picture of who might be available,” said Hendrick. “Jerry has made a tremendous effort, but sometimes these things just don’t work out. We wish him well and have no doubt that he will be successful.” Nadeau echoed those sentiments. “Driving for Hendrick Motorsports was a great experience for me,” said Nadeau, who began racing NASCAR Winston Cup Series events in 1997. “At the end of my first season with the team, I really felt that we were on our way, but the results we were capable of just weren’t there. I wish everyone at Hendrick Motorsports the best of luck and look forward to future opportunities.”