Nadeau signs deal to drive No. 36 Pontiac

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Jerry Nadeau will race MB2 Motorsports' No. 36 U.S. Army Pontiacs for the next two years in the Winston Cup Series, the driver said Friday.

	Jerry Nadeau

"I'm really excited to join the guys at MB2 and to work with them and the group at MBV," Nadeau said. "I feel like this is one of the best opportunities I have ever had.

"I helped them back when Ernie Irvan was injured (in the mid-1990s) and this season when (Valvoline Pontiac driver) Johnny Benson was hurt. They have been good to me and ever since I have worked with them they have treated me with open arms so I can't wait to get started."

Ken Schrader is driving the No. 36 through the end of this season. The MB2 team is aligned with Benson's No. 10, which is co-owned by sponsor Valvoline and the MB2 owners.

The Army will be the primary sponsor on the No. 36 car at 27 Winston Cup races next year and will be the associate sponsor for nine. Mars Inc. has sponsored the team since 1997 and will end their primary sponsorship of the car at the end of this year.

Nadeau has been on the sidelines since he was involved in a recreational karting accident Oct. 17, the day before Martinsville Speedway opened for practice for the Old Dominion 500. He tore ligaments in his shoulder, fractured a shoulder bone and cracked two left-side ribs.

	The No. 36 Pontiac will be sponsored by the U.S. Army next year. Credit: Autostock

"My ribs are still popping, but I'm getting better," Nadeau said. "I'll be good for a couple days and then I'll sneeze or move the wrong way and they'll pop again.

"I feel good, though, and my arm is getting a lot better. It's been three weeks (since the injury occurred). I'm going to continue to do my rehab and I will be about 85 or 90 percent recovered by the time we are ready to test."

Nadeau said his new team would test the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix at a General Motors session at Homestead-Miami Speedway after next weekend's season-finale Ford 400.