AT EVERGREEN SPEEDWAY

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 1, 2002) – Eric Norris knows the importance of being in the right place at the right time. Such timing is critical in his stunt work in the film industry. He has found it to be advantageous in his racing, as well.

above: The Norris pit crew taking charge on pit road at Evergreen Speedway

Being in the right place at the right time led to victory in the NASCAR Winston West Series, with a thrilling win in the Coors Light 200 presented by NAPA and Albertson’s at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., on June 29.

Norris closely trailed Austin Cameron in the final stages of the 200-lap event, appearing content to take a runner-up finish and protect his slim lead in the championship standings. As the pair took the white flag on the last lap, however, Cameron’s car sputtered out of fuel and slowed. Norris flashed by on the outside to snatch the victory, his second of the season and the third of his career.

Norris crossed the finish line in the JaniKing/Ultra Wheels Ford with a margin of victory of 1.84 seconds, at an average speed of 69.869 mph. His win netted the 37-year-old Dana Point, Calif., competitor $14,235 in prize money and posted awards.

Johnny Borneman of Ramona, Calif., finished second in the MotorSportDirect.com Ford. Mike Duncan of Lamont, Calif., was third in the MB Duncan Chevrolet, followed by Ed Watson of Mt. Vernon, Wash., in the Creekside Retirement Ford. Mike David of Modesto, Calif., took the Stage 8 Locking Fasteners Rookie-of-the-Race Award – finishing fifth in the Injury Helpline.com Ford. Rounding out the top 10 were Scott Gaylord, Brandon Ash, Kevin Richards, Dan Obrist and Brett Thompson.

Cameron – the Bud Pole Award winner with a qualifying lap of 96.948 mph in the NAPA/Martin Senour Chevrolet – coasted in for an 11th-place finish, the first car off the lead lap. Cameron also garnered the Gatorade Front Runner Award for leading the most laps, remaining out front for 109 circuits.

The race featured six lead changes among five drivers – Cameron, Norris, Richards, David and Obrist. The event was slowed by six cautions for 32 laps.

With the win, Norris extended his lead in the championship standings. At the midway point of the season, he leads with 834 points over Cameron with 782. Richards is third with 761, while Duncan has 745 and David is fifth with 708. Sixth through 10th are Ash at 693, Greg Pursley at 690, Borneman at 674, Thompson at 658 and Gaylord at 657.

David has edged out front in the chase for this year’s Stage 8 Rookie-of-the-Year Award. He leads with 45 points over Pursley and Thompson, each with 42. They are trailed by Scott Lynch with 25 and G.J. Mennen with 21.

Ford has taken a slight lead, meanwhile, in the battle for the Manufacturers’ Championship this season. Ford has 37 points and three wins, compared to Chevrolet with 36 points and two wins. Pontiac has 22 points, followed by Dodge with three points.

The next event on the NASCAR Winston West Series schedule will be the JaniKing 200 at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway on July 27.

View The Winston West Series On NASCAR.com With Driver Profiles