February 28 -- Having won a race in October in 2000 and scoring a podium finish at the season opener at Phoenix International Raceway, Norris Racing arrived at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway ready to continue riding the wave of momentum. The team is excited and anxious to go racing. If things go as planned tonight, they may well leave the track as the points leaders in the NASCAR Winston West Series.
The battle of Norris and his peers at The Bullring is certainly the best entertainment in Vegas tonight! Norris' famous father Chuck may be a star on the screen, but son Eric is one of the biggest stars on the racetrack and his popularity and the popularity of his very well repected team is continually rising.
Want to see NASCAR's elite division in the West? Head on out to the Bullring! Time trials start at 4:30. It should prove to be a great night of racing and an opportunity for race fans to say hi to the team and pick up a driver card, they are a great group of people!
RacingWest: What are your goals for this season?
Eric Norris: Our goal is to win several races en-route to the Championship.
RW: How did the season-opener at Phoenix International Raceway go for you and the team?
EN: Phoenix went as well as we hoped. We qualified second, led the first 61 laps, and finished 2nd to Ken Schrader. The car was great all weekend, our stops were good and the guys are really working well together especially under our new Crew Chief Clinton Cram. As far as we are concerned, we have the points lead so we are pleased but not content. We still have a lot to improve on.
RW: Have you had a chance to test at The Bullring in Las Vegas?
EN: We tested The Bullring the week after Phoenix and it went well. We learned a lot which will work to our advantage when we return for the race. It's a great little short track.
RW: What are you expecting at the event and what do you think it will take to win?
EN: Like all of our short track races, it will take patience and tire management to win at The Bullring. Being that the race is 300 laps, we hope to qualify near the front and stay out of trouble so we have a shot to win at the end. There will be plenty of passing opportunities because it's a smooth, wide track. You'll see three-wide on the straightaways and two-wide in the corners. Hopefully the weather cooperates because it's going to be a good show for the fans.
RW: How do you feel now that the series is on one tire?
EN: Relieved!
RW: There seemed to be mixed emotions having a Winston Cup driver win the race at PIR. There will be a Winston Cup driver in this event as well. Do you think there is less of an advantage for the Winston Cup drivers on a short-track than a larger track like PIR and why or why not?
EN: No, I don't think Cup drivers have any less of an advantage at a short track compared to a big track. Cup driverenroutee cream of the crop, they should be better than us at all tracks.
RW: Do you like running with or without the Winston Cup drivers in a Winston West event?
EN: We don't mind having the Winston Cup guys race with us - as long as they race by the same rules we do. We like to see where our program stands against the best, so when Cup drivers race with us we find out where we are, what we need to do to improve, etc., and it just makes us work that much harder. We like the chance to "beat the best."
RW: Do you have a car or driver appearance scheduled at Vegas?
EN: We don't have a car or driver appearance scheduled for Las Vegas which is unusual for us. Eric is directing the next episode of the TV Series so he is going to be in and out of Vegas quickly. Fans can get an autographed photo of Eric with his Jani-King Ford by visiting our website, www.Norris Racing.com.
RW: What is your favorite thing to do at Vegas when not busy with the car?
EN: Our entire team spends far too much of their off-track time in Vegas at The Orleans - gambling. Eric is usually leading the pack unless his wife, Stephanie, three daughters or family is in town for the race.
RW: What is your game-plan now that one race is down and your goals may have to be adjusted?
EN: Our goals remain the same after Phoenix - win races en-route to the Championship. Phoenix was a great start for this team - it showed our guys their hard work pays-off and has motivated them even more. We are looking forward to a great year!
Crew Chief - Clinton Cram
Sponsors - Jani-King International, Ultra Wheels, Pacific Coast Building Products and The Whisky Bar
Co-Owner/Team Manager - Matt Stowe
Transport Driver - Randy Snyder
Car Chief - Justin Holechek
Chief Mechanic - Kyle Sipes
Tire Specialists - Bruce Zelasko & Dean Clark
Tire Changer - Clint Almquist
Fueler - Donie Butts
Catch-Can - Scott Zelasko
Tire Changer / Sign-Board - John Zylstra
Shock Specialist - Jeff Smart
