Eric Norris Will Make His 2018 Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series Debut
2002 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion Eric Norris will make his 2018 Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series debut this weekend at the Bullring @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The “$10,000 to Win 2018 Series Finale Retro Custom Metals 150 presented by Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse San Dimas” will be Norris’ third Southwest Tour start, and second in the SRL. All three of them have been for Dave Reed and the Dave Reed RacingTeam, with the last at Kern County Raceway in 2016.
Norris is currently the Stunt Coordinator, and Second Unit Director for the Hawaii Five-0 Television Series. As such, the Dana Point, CA driver finds it a challenge to pursue his passion of racing, with filming on-site in Hawaii. Thanks to long-time friend, Dave Reed, Norris will get to scratch that itch on November 17th.
“Eric and I have been working on getting him back in our car for about a year”, car owner Dave Reed commented. “His work schedule, back and forth from Southern California and Hawaii, has limited the amount of free time he has. After his last race at Kern, two years ago, he really wanted to get back in the car.”
Reed continued, “Eric and I go back 20 plus years, as he also rented a car from us years ago, in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour Series, at Phoenix (now ISM Raceway). We have been good friends, and play golf together when time allows. With the exception of Cole Custer, it seems like we are the only two racers in South Orange County, CA that like to turn left.
Helping Norris make the event in Las Vegas, is a very special backer, who has been a huge supporter of his racing career. Eric’s father, Chuck Norris, will be putting his name on the side of the Dave Reed Racing Ford Fusion, though the family company CForce, by Chuck Norris. CForce is a bottled water company that receives its water from an artesian aquifer, on Chuck’s Lone Wolf Ranch in Navasota, TX. The company is a joint venture with his wife Gena, which features a full-service bottling facility that offers private labeling, bulk water, raw bottles sales, co-packing and branded products.
“I really need to thank my dad, for coming on board to sponsor our effort this weekend in Vegas through CForce”, Norris told the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series. “He has been a great supporter, and he is kind of the hub of my racing career, as he took me into the world of auto racing. He is an adrenaline junkie just like I am, and I think I have taken on a lot of his attributes.”
“I would also really like to thank Dave Reed for making this possible, and putting everything together”, Norris explained. “We have been friends a long time and I would really like to do a few more SRL events in the future. It all just depends on scheduling, and our ability to finance the effort.”
On the competition side, Norris will have plenty of experience to lean on with teammate, and 2001 NASCAR Southwest Tour Series Champion Craig Raudman, preparing the car and giving advice. He will also have an all-star crew, led by Crew Chief Tj Brackett Motorsports from Buckfield, Maine.
“We are looking for a good race from Eric, and the All-star team we have put together, Reed said. “Hopefully that trophy doesn’t stay in Vegas and comes home with us.”
With Raudman and Norris behind the wheel, look for Dave Reed Racing to be serious contenders for a special trophy, which is always supplied by long-time SRL supporter David Nava Mulcahy, and his business Retro Custom Metals. The $10,000 winners prize wouldn’t be to bad either.
The final event of the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series season will feature a full field of Super Late Models, at the 3/8th mile Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The SRL will be joined by the Lucas Oil Modifieds (Spears Manufacturing Modified Series presented by Lucas Oil), USAC HPD Midgets and Jr. Late Models. Spectator Gates open at 2:00 p.m., with Qualifying, “B” Features and Heat Races for the USAC HPD Midgets to follow. Opening Ceremonies are slated for 4 p.m., with Main Events to follow for the Lucas Oil Modifieds (split 40 lap features), Jr. Late Models, USAC HPD Midgets and the “Retro Custom Metals 150 presented by Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse San Dimas”.
Car Photo Credit: Dave Reed Racing
