Nadeau Charlotte preview

Jerry Nadeau's Lowe's Motor Speedway Driving Guide -- "I don't think Lowe's Motor Speedway owes me anything, it's just one of those deals. We had a great race car for the Coca-Cola 600, but we just lost a motor there. This time when we go back we'll have a better engine and we'll be a better race team for it. We're taking the same MichaelHoligan.com Chevy, so I'm anxious to run it again.

"I think what's cool about Charlotte is that it's close to home. Everybody enjoys Charlotte. Considering it was one of my first stock car racing experiences -- I finished second in an ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) race there in 1997 -- it should be good. I know Tony (Furr, crew chief) and all the guys like that race track. When you've got a good car like I've got there, it makes things a lot easier."

Leader of the Pack -- Nadeau's MichaelHoligan.com Chevrolet was one of the cars to beat in the May 28 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway before engine trouble eliminated the team from contention. Nadeau led 115 of the 400 laps in the event before his engine expired.

Viggy's Dining Guide -- Nadeau's motorcoach driver, John "Viggy" Vignona, is a self-proclaimed connoisseur of the restaurants near each of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series tracks. The Long Island, N.Y., native has several recommendations for getting the best food in his new home base of Charlotte, N.C.

"Everyone knows that the place to get Italian food in Charlotte is Ciro's -- four steering wheels -- and you go to Zapata's -- four steering wheels, too -- for Mexican," Vignona said.

"But I have a new restaurant to add to my list. Lowe's Motor Speedway invited a few people to try the new menu at their Speedway Club last week and it was really nice. The chef did a real nice job. I really enjoyed the seared tuna -- it was excellent. I enjoyed the lobster bisque, too, but they didn't put enough lobster chunks in there. For those who are fortunate enough to be able to eat there, the food was really good. It's a members-only place, but if you have the opportunity, give it a try. Everything gets four steering wheels this week."