NASCARs annual spring visit to Richmond International Raceway marks the 10-year anniversary of Jerry Nadeaus near fatal accident at the track. Nadeau crashed drivers-side first into the outside wall between Turns 1 and 2 during a May 2, 2003, practice at Richmond. He was airlifted to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in critical condition with a moderate to severe head injury, partially collapsed left lung, fractured shoulder blade and left-side rib-cage injuries. It took 20 days for Nadeau to regain full consciousness and begin to speak again, and four more before he was transferred to Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation to begin physical, occupational and speech therapy. Nadeau was in inpatient care until June 6, and in therapy until July 25. When NASCAR returned to Richmond in September that year, Nadeau made an emotional visit to VCU Medical Center to thank the medical staff. He went on to form World Karting Endurance at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and has done some driver coaching, but never raced again in NASCAR.( Associated Press )(4-27-2013) UPDATE: Jerry Nadeau still draws an imaginary line down the middle of his body to describe the accident that changed his life 10 years ago this week. On one side of the line his body feels normal, on the other side its still numb. Thats the result of a brain injury sustained in practice for a NASCAR Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. His Chevy spun and hit the Turn 1 wall at 135 times the force of gravity. The line is also a kind of metaphor for a life that is a mixture of frustration and joy, courageous acceptance and occasional regret. Jerry Nadeau does not live in the past. He go-karts often with daughter Natalie, 10, born months before the crash. And hes a proud father in the stands at her gymnastics meets. His marriage to Natalies mom ended the year after the accident, but he remarried last year to Maryana, a Ukrainian he met online. But if Nadeau doesnt live in his glory days of racing, he remembers them. And though hes accepted that his physical limitations ended his career at 33, it still frustrates him. ‘Things were going so well and to have it taken away, yeah, I have a lot of bad feelings over that’ Nadeau said. ‘Its amazing how time flies. The toughest part, Nadeau says, is that a brain injury makes you feel like a different person. He adds that hed rather have broken every bone in his body at once than have his mind altered. Unless things change, he not sure when or if hell be able work again. But hes not sad. ‘I still love racing, everything about it, and would still be doing it if I could’ Nadeau said. ‘I had a great life in racing and met a lot of good people. But Im a different person. Ive moved forward and Im trying to make the best of everything.”( Newport News Daily Press )
