Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Nadeau gets ride in Petty car for Sears Point race

Tuesday, June 18, 2002 | 9:48 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Former road-racing specialist Jerry Nadeau will replace Steve Grissom in the Petty Enterprises No. 44 Dodge for this weekend's NASCAR Winston Cup race at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

"I don't think that a one-race deal will be too tough," Nadeau said. "Petty Enterprises has had a lot of experience and success in the past at Sears Point and I have some pretty good experience on road courses. I have driven stock cars on road courses, too, so its not like this is a shot in the dark.

"I think that this is going to be a lot of fun. It will be good for all of us, and especially for me. I am really anxious to get back on the race track again."

Nadeau started the season driving the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet but was released last month.

In the two road-course races last season, Nadeau qualified sixth and finished 31st at Sears Point and qualified third and finished sixth at Watkins Glen.

Sunday's race on the 2-mile road course will be the first start in a Dodge for Nadeau, whose lone Winston Cup win came on an oval (Atlanta Motor Speedway) in 2000.

"I don't know if I have a big advantage driving a road course but I do enjoy the racetracks," Nadeau said. "It will be the first time that I have been in a Dodge and I am interested in seeing how they react on the track.

"I know that Dodge and Petty Enterprises do a lot of work with their engines and they have been keeping up with the latest technologies. It will be interesting to see what other teams have and what I will be able to do for them."

Grissom, who replaced Buckshot Jones at Petty Enterprises in April, is expected to return to the seat of the No. 44 Dodge July 6 at Daytona International Speedway -- the next race on the schedule.

"I am excited about the opportunity to run a true road-course race again, especially after the fun I had with the Crawford team in the 24 hour (race at Daytona in February)," Stewart said. "I am also excited about teaming up with EFR, knowing his years of experience in this type of racing, as well as his in-depth knowledge of the Crawford, will help me adjust to the changes made to the car since February. I'm looking forward to a great race."

Stewart kicked off the 2002 racing season with Crawford Race Cars at the 40th anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona in February. After starting in the third position and maintaining a spot in the top five of the 80-car field, the No. 2 car lost its engine in the 12th hour and was forced to retire from the race.

Jarrett will be in the Bay Area for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma.

The project, currently in the preliminary writing and development stage, "will tell the fictional story of the daughter of a successful, modern-day NASCAR team owner and will include opportunities to feature real NASCAR drivers, teams, tracks and competition," the release said.

Fortunately for racing fans, Spears will not portray a driver in the untitled movie.

Other winners Saturday night were: Travis Swalwell (NASCAR Chargers), Danny Medina (Legends Cars), Darren Rollins (Bullring Bombers) and Stoney Gray (Thunder Roadsters).00