Article : Lucky to be alive
In Nadeau's last California appearance, he was driving the MB2-owned U.S. Army-sponsored Chevrolet in the NASCAR Auto Club 500. He finished 14th in the Winston Cup event, the last time he would drive competitively.
Five days later, Nadeau crashed hard at Richmond International Raceway during practice, suffering a head injury that has sidelined him since.
"It was a 128G (force of gravity) hit," Nadeau said Tuesday inside the Hendrick Motorsports hauler. "It should have killed me. I'm just trying to look at my life now, figure out what's next."
The biggest question is trying to determine whether racing will ever play a role in his life. He has the desire - "I wish we had a second car here so that I could race against Adrian." - but questions remain whether he is physically fit to compete.
Nadeau readily admits he lives with a constant tingling feeling on the left side of his body, the direct result of the hit to the right side of the brain.
"It's like when your arm or leg falls asleep," Nadeau said in trying to explain the sensation. "It's there all the time. If I really focus on something, I can barely feel it. When I work out, I feel it even more as the brain works to try and connect those nerves.
"I'm getting better. I'm not a 100 percent. I would say about 70."
Fontana holds a special place in Nadeau's career. In 1997, he started the inaugural NASCAR race at the old Kaiser Steel mill site for Richard Jackson, in just his second Cup start. The 2003 race was the last of his 177 starts that produced one win, the 2000 season finale in Atlanta for owner Rick Hendrick.
Nadeau is working for Hendrick once again, coaching the Busch Series drivers. In addition to Fernandez, Nadeau has worked with Hendrick drivers Boston Reid and Blake Feese.
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