LOUDON, N.H. – Jerry Nadeau is racing again.

Go-karts, that is.

Don’t diminish the importance of that accomplishment. Nadeau’s recent recreational excursions at the karting center near his home in Charlotte, N.C., aren’t to be taken granted after a May 2 crash at Richmond (Va.) International Speedway left him with critical brain injuries.

“(Racing is) basically all I’ve done my whole life,” said Nadeau. “I’ve been given a second chance.”

Nadeau spoke publicly Friday for the first time since his life-threatening crash, meeting the media during a rain delay at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Although he is still experiencing some weakness on his left side, believed to be a result of a lingering bruise on his brain from the concussion, Nadeau’s speech and motor skills have recovered nicely. Injuries to his lungs, ribs and shoulder also have healed.

The native of Danbury, Conn., did not recover full consciousness for 20 days after his practice crash. He remains in outpatient speech, physical and occupational therapy three times each week.

“It’s mostly things that make you think, like hard games,” Nadeau said. “I’ll read a newspaper, they’ll take it away and ask me about what I read. Stuff that makes you think a lot.”

Nadeau said he only briefly thought about retirement and was hooked on racing again after his first go-kart drive.

“I knew right then that I was going to come back,” he said.

While there is no official timetable for Nadeau’s return, he has been given verbal assurances that the ride in the No. 01 U.S. Army Pontiac is his when he is ready.

Mike Wallace has been the primary replacement driver.

Nadeau said that his mind still “plays some tricks” on him.

“It’s more of a mind thing,” Nadeau said of his readiness to race. “Physically, I’m fine. I’ve just got to wait for my brain to heal.”

Hello, Newman

Ryan Newman relishes his position as one of only two three-time winners in Winston Cup this season.

More significantly, while fellow Dodge drivers Rusty Wallace, Sterling Marlin and Bill Elliott have achieved sporadic success, Newman is the only driver to put the Intrepid nameplate in victory lane.

“You’ve got to have everything in the equation to be sitting where I am,” Newman said. “I’m just happy to be where we are. It says a lot about our team that we are the only Dodge to win.”

Coupled with his win at NHIS last September, Newman has four victories in only 62 career starts.

Should’ve raced the truck?

Two years ago, Dale Jarrett won a Winston Cup event at NHIS. Now he’d likely settle for finishing on the lead lap.

Since finishing 10th in the Daytona 500 and winning a week later at Rockingham, N.C., Jarrett has logged only two top-10 finishes. Personnel changes haven’t sparked the performance of one of the sport’s high-profile teams, as the 46-year-old Jarrett and the Robert Yates Racing No. 88 UPS Ford are 29th in points.

“Just when it looks like we’re making progress,” said Jarrett, “we take a step back.”

Jarrett has 31 career wins. Despite an average finish of 25th this season, he has earned $2.02 million at the season’s halfway point.

In memory

Ricky Craven will wear a helmet decal this weekend honoring former Oxford Plains Speedway photographer Allen Brann.

Brann, 60, died in January of a heart attack. At the time of his death, Brann was restoring a car for the Maine Vintage Race Car Association, of which he was a co-founder.

Many of Brann’s victory lane photos, including shots of Craven’s True Value Oxford 250 and New England Chevy Dealers NHIS 250 wins in 1991, remain in the driver’s albums today.

“Allen was a great guy. He was one of the few individuals with such a wonderful loyalty to the sport,” Craven said. “This is just a small way of remembering him and his contributions.”

Frankie goes to Loudon

Ward Burton’s chances of successfully defending his New England 300 title are enhanced by the presence of crew chief Frank Stoddard.

Stoddard, a native of North Haverhill, N.H., turned the wrenches on Jeff Burton’s NHIS-record four race victories. After parting ways with Jeff Burton midway through last season, Stoddard hooked up with the elder Burton brother at Bill Davis Racing.

“He’s from the area, and he’s won in every division he’s raced here,” Ward Burton said.

Facts and figures

• Fifteen drivers have started all 16 Winston Cup races at NHIS, but only Jarrett, Marlin, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin have finished them all.

• $4.59 million is the prize money posted for Sunday’s New England 300.

• Four of the five fastest drivers in Busch Series practice, Casey Atwood, Mike McLaughlin, Dave Blaney and Tim Fedewa, will start outside the top 30 as a result of qualifying being rained out.

• Newman and Jeff Gordon are the only Winston Cup drivers to win from the pole at NHIS.

koakes@sunjournal.com

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