LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Eric Norris captured his first NASCAR Winston West Series championship after finishing 2nd in “The Orleans 150” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this past weekend.
Norris, who entered the season’s final race with a 36 point lead over Austin Cameron and 78 point lead over Kevin Richards, clinched the title around lap 60 of the 100 lap event after Cameron experienced motor problems and Richards became mathematically eliminated. Well aware that a top-6 finish guaranteed him the Championship, Norris drove smart and conservatively in the early stages of the race. Once he knew he clinched the championship, Norris set sail, taking the lead at lap 69 and maintaining it until lap 83, when eventual race winner Scott Lynch overtook him. Norris was happy to cruise to a 2nd place finish, his third of the year.
“Scott had a better car than us tonight so we’re happy to finish second to him,” said Norris. “We were really after the championship and that’s what we got. I never drove so conservatively in my life. We didn’t expect to win the championship midway through the race and I feel bad for Austin, he’s a great guy and driver. We are just grateful the Jani-King Ford ran well enough to get us another top-3 and the title. Our pit-stops were awesome too.”
It was a fitting finish to a stellar season. In ten races, Norris’ average finish was an incredible 3.5, including 2 wins, 2 poles, 7 top-3 finishes and 10 top-10 finishes. Equally impressive, Norris and his veteran race team completed 1719 of 1720 laps.
“This championship is for Jani-King, Emer’gen-C, Pacific Coast Building Products, Ultra Wheels, The Eytchison Group, Shasta and all the people that supported this race team the past five years,” said Norris. “It’s an awesome feeling, especially after all the tough times we’ve endured over the years. But this race team stayed together, never quit or gave up on me. I couldn’t be more proud to win a championship with them. To be a NASCAR champion is a huge accomplishment. I’ll cherish this for the rest of my life.”
On Sunday night following the race, Norris, his race team and Jani-King were honored at the 2002 NASCAR Winston West Series Awards Banquet at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. About 400 people attended the gala event, which included a surprise performance by grammy-award winner Neil Sedaka. At the banquet, special awards presented to Norris included a $70,000 bonus from series sponsor R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., $5,000 from Featherlite Trailers and $3,000 from 76 Race Gas to push Norris’ total yearly winnings over $193,000. Matt Stowe received the Champion Owner trophy, while the Champion Sponsor Award was presented to Jerry Crawford, president of Jani-King International. The team’s crew chief, Jerry Pitts, won the Champion Crew Chief award.
“What an evening,” Norris said of the banquet. “To be crowned the Champion in Las Vegas in front of all the drivers, teams, NASCAR, our sponsors and my family and friends is really special. I’ll never forget it!”
Norris, who hoped to race a few more times in 2002, had to return to Toronto following the banquet to continue his work as a stuntman on a feature film. His racing plans for the remainder of 2002 and 2003 are in the process of being determined.
“The Orleans 150” will be televised by the SPEED Channel on Monday, November 25 at 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT.
For more information on Eric Norris and Norris Racing, visit www.NorrisRacing.com.
