Nemechek to stay in No. 25 Chevy

[Elwood]

Nemechek to stay in No. 25 Chevy

 

November 13, 2002

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Joe Nemechek will return next season to Hendrick Motorsports, again driving the No. 25 Chevrolet.

 

Nemechek replaced Jerry Nadeau on May 15 and struggled on the track until Peter Sospenzo took over as crew chief on Sept. 10. Since then, former Busch Series champion Nemechek has two top-five finishes and started in the top-15 four times.

 

Ed Guzzo, who won three Winston Cup championships as Jeff Gordon's car chief on the No. 24, also moved to the No. 25 when Sospenzo arrived. He will remain in that role in 2003.

 

``I believe this team is going to be very competitive and turn a lot of heads in 2003,'' team owner Rick Hendrick said Wednesday.

 

Nemechek has two career victories, one in 1999 with Felix Sabates and the other in 2001 with Andy Petree. Four-time champion Gordon, two-time champion Terry Labonte and rookie sensation Jimmie Johnson drive the other Hendrick entries.

 

It was announced earlier this week that Nadeau, who had been in the No. 25 since 2000, will drive a Pontiac next season for MB2/MBV Motorsports.