NASCAR's Nadeau to drive in the DIRT.

R & C Motorsports Ventures (RCMV) have signed NASCAR Winston Cup Series rising star Jerry Nadeau to drive its dirt modified car in three to five races during the 2001 DIRT Motorsports season.

Nadeau, winner of the season-ending NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, is putting the finishing touch on his plans for the 2001 racing season.

R & C Motorsports Ventures (RCMV) have signed NASCAR Winston Cup Series rising star Jerry Nadeau to drive its dirt modified car in three to five races during the 2001 DIRT Motorsports season.

Nadeau, winner of the season-ending NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, is putting the finishing touch on his plans for the 2001 racing season.

Although his first priority is driving the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Automotive Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, he also will drive in a few select DIRT Motorsports-sanctioned events that accommodate his busy Winston Cup Series schedule.

Nadeau's first venture behind the wheel of the RCMV dirt modified will be Saturday, April 7 at Lowe's Motor Speedway's new dirt track in Concord, N.C. RCMV is preparing a new 2001 Troyer four-link chassis for Nadeau's dirt assault in the team's facility in Harrisburg, N.C.

"I can't wait to get back in a modified racer," said the 30-year-old Nadeau. "I'm as competitive as anybody else, but I plan to have a lot of fun with R & C Motorsports Ventures. I had a lot of fun early in my career in modifieds. To me, fun means a lot of track time and a lot of wins, too. That's what I want to do with RCMV."

R & C Motorsports Ventures is rich in motor sports experience and history with co-founders Ray Schepler and Charlie Langenstein. This isn't their first time working together, however. They currently service Nadeau's efforts in the No. 25 Monte Carlo at Hendrick Motorsports, and are looking for big things from him in 2001 - both at Hendrick Motorsports and at RCMV.

"We are really excited to have this opportunity to have Jerry drive for us in our new venture," Schepler said. "We feel we have all the ingredients to do well and have some fun at the same time. We're happy to have the opportunity to compete in two of the world's premier racing series this year."

Schepler, 32, of Hilton, N.Y., was a mechanic for dirt modified star Danny Johnson and most recently a member of Jeff Gordon's championship-winning NASCAR Winston Cup Series team. He will handle financesand team relations for RCMV.

Langenstein, 40, of Mays Landing, N.J., is a veteran championship crew chief on the dirt modified circuit with 224 feature wins to his credit.

Dirt drivers Jimmy Horton, Brett Hearn and Danny Johnson are just a few of the drivers who have taken Langenstein's cars tovictory lane. As Director of Racing Operations, Langenstein will oversee all race car preparation and serve as crew chief.

Langenstein was also a crew member during the 1980 Indy 500, worked on the 1989 NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division championship team of Rob Moroso and helped prepared cars for Moroso's battle for NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year in 1990.

In addition, he also designed and built the car Bobby Hamilton took to North Carolina Speedway's victory lane for the legendary Richard Petty in 1997.

The team plans to announce its primary, associate and product sponsors as well as its complete dirt motor sports race schedule later this month.

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