NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 300 Preview: #90, Lance Norick
30 October 1997
#90 Lance Norick, Phoenix Coyotes Dodge
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 300K Advance
Phoenix International Raceway
PHOENIX COYOTES TO TEAM UP WITH LANCE NORICK
NHL DODGE TO CARRY TEAM LOGO AT PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
PHOENIX, AZ - Lance Norick will have a new team member for the GM
Goodwrench/Delco Battery 300 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Phoenix
International Raceway. Norick's NASCAR Craftsman race truck will carry the
Phoenix Coyotes logo when the National Hockey League sponsored L & R
Motorsports Dodge team unloads for the November 1, 1997 event, at the fast
one-mile track in the Valley of the Sun.
In March, 1997, the NHL announced its sponsorship of Norick and the #90 L & R
Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. Primary sponsorship of a
race team by another major sport is unprecedented in the history of
motorsports.
Norick is looking forward to returning to Phoenix International Raceway
following on the heals of his best-ever qualifying effort at California
Speedway.
"California was the first race with our new engine program completely in
place," explains Norick. "We posted our best-ever qualifying effort starting
on the inside of the second row and ran competitively in the race. I didn't
have much experience with the draft but I learned a great deal in that race.
I have run Phoenix International several times. With the improvements we have
made as a team and the experience I have gained as a driver, I think we are
prepared to have a great run. My crew chief, Mike Cheek and the guys just
keep giving me great trucks to drive. We have a true team effort. That is
what it takes to get to the front."
"Having the Phoenix Coyotes join our team this race gives us added incentive
to put the NHL Dodge in the lead," Norick continued. "We are honored to have
them on board and will do our best to get a good finish in front of their
hometown fans. One of the greatest aspects of this program is the opportunity
to represent the different teams when we race in their area. The race fans
really get into seeing their local team logo on our truck. It is obvious that
the program is increasing the fan awareness of both sports."
"Now that television coverage of the new hockey season has begun," Norick
concluded. "Many NASCAR fans have told us they will be set to watch their
favorite hockey team when they aren't cheering for their favorite race team."
The L & R Motorsports race truck sports the NHL's colors of black and orange
prominently featuring the NHL shield and the "Coolest Game on earth" logo.
The uniforms of Norick and the crew of the #90 Dodge race truck are similarly
NHL-branded.
During the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, the truck will feature the
logo of the NHL team located nearest to the event. Crew members will salute
their newest team member by wearing apparel with the Phoenix Coyotes logo
during Thursday and Friday activities at the track.
The GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 300 is scheduled for Saturday, November 1 at
1:30 p.m. MST. Live television coverage of the event will be provided by TBS
and the radio broadcast can be heard on the NASCAR Truck Network.
Qualifying for starting positions one through 25 is slated for Thursday,
October 30 following NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour qualifying which
begins at 1:00 p.m. Second round qualifying will be Friday at 9:30 a.m. to
fill positions 26 through 32. A 36-truck field is possible with up to four
provisional positions based on current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series owner
and driver points.
By McNally Media
