Nadeau Longs to Race Again in NASCAR

By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

February 6, 2007, 6:04 PM EST

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jerry Nadeau isn't looking for sympathy, and he's not interested in charity. What he wants is another shot at a NASCAR career.

Nadeau was a promising young star when his career was cut short by a horrific accident 10 races into the 2003 season.

After winning the pole that May 1 afternoon at Richmond International Raceway, Nadeau crashed hours later in the final Friday practice session when his car skid, spun halfway around and slammed driver's side first into the wall between the first and second turns.

"Boom, in one-split-second, my life ended," said Nadeau, who suffered massive head injuries.

Three years later, he's still trying to revive that life.

"I really can't go back to racing, but I almost want to because I feel like there is something for me to do," he said. "I feel like I need to do something."

Nadeau, now 36, had every reason to believe he had a long future ahead of him. He'd driven for car owner Rick Hendrick, winning the 2000 season finale for his first career Cup victory and just had moved over to MB2 Motorsports to drive its flagship car.

Then his life changed forever.

Like many drivers, Nadeau had a "it will never happen to me" mentality and skimped on disability insurance, taking out a bare-bones policy that paid $1 million after the accident.

"I'm sure no driver likes paying for the insurance, but if I had known that my accident would have happened like it did and I would never race again, I would have never taken the smallest portion of insurance," he said. "But I'm the one who got caught. It's a harsh, helpless feeling, and I would never put this on any other driver."

Nadeau's medical bills totaled almost $1 million. He said he believes NASCAR paid the first $30,000, and his personal workman's compensation policy covered the rest.

Nadeau still has lingering effects from the injury, including a constant tingling on the left side of his body that he describes as annoying.

He also longs to race again and hasn't given up trying. While testing a BMW on the road course in Sebring, Fla., late last month, he learned his father, Gerald, had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

Nadeau immediately flew to Durham, N.C., putting his life on hold to be with his father during treatments.

He considers himself a victim of bad timing -- his accident happened three months before Richmond began installing SAFER barriers that likely would have prevented his extensive injuries.

"My whole life turned upside down that split second I had that accident, and sometimes it's like 'Damn, why didn't NASCAR put the walls in one week earlier?'" he wondered.

Still, he expects nothing from the sanctioning body.

"Yes, NASCAR basically said 'Sorry. Hope you get better.' And yes, it would be really, really nice if there was some sort of situation where a driver can at least be taken care of," Nadeau said. "But this is the chance you take, and I don't blame NASCAR. It's my problem, and I am fine with it."