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NASCAR Trucks: Eric Norris to Drive Second Bobby Hamilton Racing Truck at Texas Motor Speedway

6 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Lebanon, Tenn.-Eric Norris, a resident of Dallas, Texas will be making his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start of 1999, October 15th in the Blue Bluebonnet 300 at Texas Motor Speedway. His other start this year was at the first race at Texas in June where a problem early on forced him to finish 34th.

Norris will be driving a Bobby Hamilton Racing prepared Dodge with sponsorship from Coca-Cola, Cinemark, and Interstate Batteries for this race only. The truck will carry the number 4 and be solid red.

"This is a great opportunity for me," said Norris. "To get a chance to race at my home track in front of my family and friends that have supported me throughout my racing career is really something special. I know there will be a lot of pressure racing a Bobby Hamilton truck because everyone knows it's good equipment. So it's up to me to run it up front."

Norris currently competes full-time on the NASCAR Winston West Series where he sits 12th in points with one top 5 finish and four top 10 finishes in 12 starts. Overall he has 25 Winston West Series starts. But that is not all he does. When Norris is not traveling around racing in NASCAR he coordinates stunts and directs episodes for his father's CBS show Walker Texas Ranger.

"Eric is a good guy and if given time, has talent," said Bobby Hamilton. "When he came to us to do this deal it looked good and as it started to come together it became a really good opportunity for us. I think he'll be fine, he just needs to get in the show and run every lap and that will be a good day."

This will be Norris's seventh start in the truck series. He has five starts in 1997 and one in 1999 with a career best finish of 13th at Watkins Glen International. This one race deal is part of a promotion program that will provide a lucky fan the opportunity to watch the race with Chuck Norris from one of the suites at Texas Motor Speedway.

"This is a one race deal right now," said Norris. "But hopefully Coca-Cola, Cinemark, and Interstate Batteries will see what we can do for them and come on board for more races next year."

The Texas truck race will be the second race Norris plans on running the weekend of October 15th. He is slated to run the NASCAR Winston West Series race in Bakersfield, California on Sunday. So that means the frequent flier miles will be adding up.

Bobby Hamilton Racing also fields the number 18 Dodge truck, full-time for Joe Ruttman in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

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