Eric Norris Returns to Stock Car Racing with K&N Backed Team

Eric Norris prepares for the SRL Southwest Tour Series race at Kern County Raceway in Bakersfield.

Norris, the son of martial arts expert and actor Chuck Norris, was a veteran in the NASCAR Winston West Series, the predecessor of the K&N Pro Series West. He won his first West Series race in Bakersfield, at Mesa Marin Raceway.

Eric Norris continues to race, off-road trucks and open wheel cars mostly, and has been trying to put a deal together with Dave Reed Racing and his driving partner, Matt Stowe, for some time.

“I always do a couple races a year, maybe a road race somewhere,” Eric Norris said. “I’ve gone out to Cleveland, Mid-Ohio, a few times. Last year Matt and I did like three off-road races. I’m always doing something. I love racing so much, I don’t ever want to step away from it completely. I am always trying to find something to do.”

Eric Norris finished in 20th place in the Bulwark 150 by 51 Fifty Energy Drink at Kern County Raceway. Derek Thorn won the SRL Southwest Tour race. Twenty-six cars entered the race.

Eric Norris (14) races during the SRL Southwest Tour Series event at Kern County Raceway.

Fitting a stock car race into his schedule is tricky. Eric Norris works as a stunt coordinator. He has been working on the TV show “24” in Atlanta, Georgia, and finding time to take away from the show has been difficult.

“It’s hard for me to commit to anything,” Eric Norris said. “We have tried to do a couple of different things with Dave earlier in the year. It’s just hard for me to sit there are say I need this Saturday night off. Then I go and work somewhere and I can’t get away.”

When he put together the deal to race in the SRL Southwest Tour Series in Bakersfield, he had to ask the producers of the show to give him time off. He wanted to leave on Thursday and the race was on Saturday night.

“They were super cool about it,” Eric Norris said. “Everything just kind of worked out. The timing was right. Dave had his car available. I know Dave is going to do everything he can to give me the best equipment and the best people.”

As for his expectations for the race, Eric Norris said he was not sure how it would play out. He was not so concerned about winning the race, but wanted to be competitive.

Eric Norris entered the SRL Southwest Tour Series race in Bakersfield in a car backed by K&N.

Even though Eric Norris works as a stuntman and stunt coordinator in movies and television shows, and races off-road trucks and cars, he insists he is not looking for an adrenaline rush. Racing cars is how he gets his competitive juices flowing. It is a way for him to challenge himself in a competitive forum.

“I’m not a super big adrenaline junky that I like to go out and jump out of airplanes,” Eric Norris said. “Racing cars is a more competitive thing for me than adrenaline junky thing for me. I get the adrenaline obviously when you're sitting there getting ready to get the green flag, and you got those big butterflies. It’s all about passing the next guy," explained Norris.

"I’ve never been a huge adrenaline junky. That being said, I have done some big stunts, and I still do big stunts. I get those big butterflies and all that. But it’s more about doing a good job and doing something cool than, oh my God, I am going to jump out of this building.”

His goals for the race were pretty realistic, stay on the lead lap and hang with the race leaders.

“I don’t know what my goals are really,” Eric Norris said. “I’d love to sit there and run every lap and finish on the lead lap with everybody and be competitive. I want to go out and be competitive and race hard, be up there with the leaders.”

Eric Norris finished in 20th place in the SRL Southwest Tour Series race at Kern County Raceway.

“I haven’t been in a car in 10 years,” Eric Norris said. “I have to get acclimated in two days of practice. Dave is going to give me a good car and if everything works out, there’s no reason I can’t go run up front with the leaders.”

Eric Norris had plenty of top-notch support for the race. Three-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion Eric Holmes was his spotter. Plus K&N provided support for Eric Norris and his team in the race.

“K&N brings a big company to the series. It is exciting to have K&N as part of the series and part of this whole program as a sponsor,” Eric Norris said. “It brings legitimacy, especially with the Southwest Tour, to have a such a great company as part of it. I am excited to be a part of it.”