CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 10)- - Hendrick Motorsports has parted ways with driver Jerry Nadeau, effectively ending Nadeau's stint with the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet team.

"Jerry has shown some flashes of brilliance while driving for us over the past two and a half years," said John Hendrick, President of Hendrick Motorsports. "As a team, we just have not been able to find the kind of consistency that it takes to be successful in this ever-increasingly competitive sport."

"Both Hendrick Motorsports and myself as a driver are dedicated to the same goal-- winning races," Nadeau said. "But after we sat down and evaluated the situation, it was obvious that we were not making the kind of progress we owe our fans and sponsors and decided it would be best to go our separate ways."

Nadeau is currently 28th in the Winston Cup standings, but has been ranked as high as seventh since joining HMS at the beginning of 2000. The Danbury, Connecticut native finished his first year with the #25 team by winning the season-ending NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With HMS, Nadeau posted seven top-five finishes, 15 top-10s and two outside pole positions in 81 points events.

Hendrick said that no one has been chosen to fill the vacancy, although a search is currently under way. Hendrick did not indicate whether a permanent driver would be named or if a replacement would join the No. 25 team on an interim basis to finish out the 2002 campaign.

"It may be in our best interests not to name a permanent replacement until the end of the season when we have a clearer picture of who might be available," Hendrick said. "Jerry has made a tremendous effort, but sometimes these things just don't work out. We wish him well and have no doubt that he will be successful."

"Driving for Hendrick Motorsports was a great experience for me," said Nadeau, who began racing Winston Cup events in 1997. "At the end of my first season with the team, I really felt that we were on our way, but the results we were capable of just weren't there. I wish everyone at Hendrick Motorsports the best of luck and look forward to future opportunities."

Nadeau has a short term opportunity with the #10 Valvoline team as he'll drive for the injured Johnny Benson in The Winston Open on May 18 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Beyond that, his future is undetermined.

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