NASCAR's Jerry Nadeau Joins Rand Racing for Jani-King Paul Revere 250

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 26, 2002) -- NASCAR Winston Cup driver Jerry Nadeau will partner with Indy Racing League driver Anthony Lazzaro in the #7 Nissan-powered Lola of Rand Racing in the Jani-King Paul Revere 250 at Daytona International Speedway on the Fourth of July. 

"I am really excited about doing this. It's going to be a lot of fun. Anthony is a great driver, and he's been doing really well in the series. Hopefully I'll be able to get up-to-speed on Wednesday during practice," remarked Nadeau, who has extensive road racing experience in various types of race cars, but has never been behind the wheel of a prototype. "I'm mainly doing this for fun. I want to go out and drive the wheels off it. I would love to do the Rolex 24 At Daytona someday, so hopefully this will open the door for me to do that. "

Nadeau will replace team owner Bill Rand, who had originally planned to race the #7 Nissan with Nic Jonsson at the Jani-King Paul Revere 250. "It is unlikely I will be able to make it to Daytona in time for the race, because of a business commitment. So, Anthony and I were tossing around some names of possible drivers to sub in for me," explained Rand, who runs a two-car effort in the Rolex Series. "Anthony and Jerry have been friends for a long time, and Jerry was doing so well in the NASCAR road race last weekend that we thought we would ask him to join us in Daytona."

Nadeau raced for Petty Enterprises last weekend in the NASCAR Winston Cup Dodge/SaveMart 350K at Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point Raceway). He took the lead on lap 88 of the 110-lap race and held more than a five-second advantage before the rear-end broke with only two laps to go. 

"[Jerry and I] raced against each other in the Hooters series back in 1995, so I have known him for quite a while now," Lazzaro commented. "I met a lot of great guys during my time with NASCAR, and Jerry is one that really stands out. He would always tell me that if I need anything, to just ask. There are a lot of good guys over there, and he's just another one of them." 

Lazzaro partnered with points-leader Terry Borcheller in Rand's #8 Nissan Lola at earlier races this season, but will move over to the team's #7 Nissan with Nadeau to run under the lights at Daytona next week. Nic Jonsson will slide over to the #8 Nissan to team with Borcheller for the weekend. "Since Terry qualifies the car, he gets most of the seat time during practice to set it up. There are some different setups I would like to try at Daytona, so it works well for me to be in the #7 at this race. That way he can try one setup in his car, while I'm testing out another in the other," commented Lazzaro. "Plus, I can help Jerry get adjusted to the car when he gets in it during Wednesday's practice."

"We now have a strong enough points lead that we can make adjustments like putting Terry and Anthony in different cars. Having them race against each other should make for some pretty exciting racing," said Rand, who saw his pair of cars sweep the top-two spots in the SRPII class and finish second and third overall at the 6 Hours of The Glen last weekend.  

Rand Racing has dominated the SportsRacing Prototype II class of the Rolex Sports Car Series this season. The team's #8 Nissan Lola won its class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Nextel 250 in Homestead, Grand American 400 in California and, most recently, the 6 Hours of The Glen. The only race this season that has not seen the drivers of the #8 car on top of the SRPII podium was the UnitedAuto 200 in Phoenix, where the top honors went to the #7 Nissan Lola.

Nadeau is no stranger to road racing. In addition to his impressive showing at the Dodge/SaveMart 350K last weekend, Nadeau has also raced in Skip Barber, Firehawk, Formula Ford and GT cars. He finished sixth overall in the Formula Opel European series in 1996, competing in 13 of the 16 races. It was the highest finish ever by an American driver. In Winston Cup, Nadeau captured his first victory at the 2000 series finale in Atlanta. 

Nadeau becomes the second NASCAR Winston Cup driver to join a sports car team for the Jani-King Paul Revere 250. Tony Stewart will partner with Elliott Forbes-Robinson to race the #2 Home Depot Judd-powered Crawford in the SportsRacing Prototype class. 

Tickets are currently on sale for the Pepsi 400 weekend, including the Jani-King Paul Revere 250, as well as Tony Stewart's "Suite Deal," which includes admission to DAYTONA USA, general admission to Pepsi 400 Qualifying and the Jani-King Paul Revere 250, frontstretch suite access on Friday to see the STACKER 2/GNC Live Well 250 with complimentary snacks, beverages and a meet and greet with Tony Stewart, a general admission Superstretch seat for the Pepsi 400 on Saturday, a complimentary seat cushion and 22 oz. fountain drink in souvenir cup. Tickets may be purchased by logging onto www.daytonainternationalspeedway.come or by calling the Speedway ticket office at 386-253-RACE.