NASCAR WCUP: Jerry Nadeau Comments From Atlanta, Post Race

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Jerry Nadeau, No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet Monte Carlo (finished 3rd) "Well no, it wasn't as good as last year's race (when he won). But the guys did a good job. We didn't really have a good qualifying run. And we spun out on the first lap and went all the way back to 43rd. So I guess it's not that bad starting backing 43rd. The car was just tight all day long. I can't imagine how good the car would have been if it would have just turned a little bit in the center. But I'll take third.

"I'm pretty happy. I've been sick all day long. I don't know why. I've had stomach pains. The car was so tight, tight, tight all day long. The guys worked hard on it. They made a lot of changes. The tires threw us a curve ball there. But I'm happy Kevin Harvick won the race. He's a good kid. This was a weird deal. I spun out on the third lap, which was Earnhardt's memorial lap. And now here's Kevin in Victory Circle. I'm happy for him.

"I didn't have the car to win. I was good on short runs, but on long runs I was terrible. With everything we did to the car, we just couldn't get it to turn. I'm just happy to have three Monte Carlos in the top three so that's pretty cool for us and for Chevrolet. What we need is points. I hate it that my real crew chief couldn't be here. But I've got to thank Gordon Gibbs and the whole team for hanging in there. Coming from the back, working out way up, and leading some laps - I don't know how many - but I'm just happy."

(You were overruled on that last pit stop. You wanted two tires but you took four) - "I think two tires would have helped me out. I know that. We did that last time we were here and we won the race. Our car was just way too tight on four tires. Unfortunately that's just part of not having a crew chief here. The guys did a good job, it's tough. Gordon has basically been thrown in a hot kettle in the biggest series in automobile racing. And he's making all the shots. I give him a lot of credit, but I think if my crew chief were here, we would have taken two tires."

(We heard Jeff Gordon say he owes you for letting him get that lap back. How tough was that?) "I guess that's what team mates are for. I guess I can stay at his house for a week (in Florida).

Text Provided By Nancy Wager

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