In three full seasons of competing in the NASCAR Winston West Series, Eric Norris has steadily climbed the ladder of success. He finished the 1998 season 14th in the championship standings, with one top-five finish. In 1999, Norris garnered two top-five finishes and was 11th in the final standings. He improved on that last season - finishing seventh in the standings, with three top-five finishes that included his first win.
Norris is confident he can finish even higher this season, with a possible shot at the championship. He already has two top-five finishes and is fifth in the championship standings after five races.
As the NASCAR Winston West Series heads to Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway for the Food 4 Less 250 on Saturday, May 12, Norris is hoping to improve on his past performances there. He has only cracked the top 10 once, however, in five visits to the .5 mile paved oval.
"Irwindale is such a great facility and a great track," Norris said. "But with the tire war that we've always had, every time I've ever been there we've been on the wrong tire. This time we're going to go there where everybody is on equal ground. And I'm excited to go back, knowing that we're on the right tire. I think we're going to be really good there."
Although the series visits Irwindale three times this season, Norris emphasized the importance of doing well at all tracks on the schedule. "Obviously, you have to run well there -especially since we go there three times," he said. "But it's the same as any other track. You have to run just as well at Washington as you do Irwindale. I just think with the way our program is right now that we're going to go to Irwindale and be pretty good. The key is staying out of trouble and finishing the race."
Norris hailed from Redondo Beach, Calif., but has called Dallas home in recent years while working on the popular CBS television series "Walker, Texas Ranger." He has been the stunt coordinator for the show and has directed some episodes, leaving him limited time to focus on racing.
Nonetheless, Norris has been able to move up in the series standings each year. He attributes the steady improvement to experience, both as a driver and a$ a team.
"This is our third year that we've all been together," Norris said of his JaniKing/Ultra Wheelssponsored team. "So, everybody is working as a team." He also credits this year's success to their new crew chief, Clinton Cram. "It's been a big step forward to have someone as knowledgeable as him to help us out. And he's a great leader."
For Norris, who celebrates his 36th birthday later this month, his continued success has fueled optimism about a crack at the title this season. "I feel like we have a good shot at it," he said. "It takes a lot of luck, but I think if we get the breaks and we keep running the way we are that we have a real good shot at the championship. And that's what our goal is this year."
Norris will be looking to gain ground at Irwindale on the front-runners in the championship standings. Austin Cameron of El Cajon, Calif., leads the standings with 791 points over series rookie Mark Reed of Bakersfield, Calif., with 775. Defending champion Brendan Gaughan of Las Vegas is third with 712 - followed by Steve Portenga of Sparks, Nev., with 710. Norris is fifth with 702. Rounding out the top 10 in the standings are Johnny Borneman II with 686, Scott Gaylord with 672, Kevin Richards with 648, Brandon Ash with 619 and Joe Bean with 615.
Nine NASCAR Touring Series blanket the United States, bringing special events to many NASCAR Weekly Racing Series tracks and some NASCAR superspeedways and road courses. NASCAR Touring Series are extremely popular with fans and competitors. NASCAR Touring Series can provide a competitor with an entire career, or they can provide valuable experience to competitors moving through the NASCAR ranks.
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