For Immediate Release:
October 22, 2005
Contact: R. Pauline
Cell Phone: 570-840-1650
E-mail: Roxiep9@aol.com
Eric Norris A Delicate Balance. Hollywood Movies & NASCAR Truck Racing
Atlanta GA - What do summer blockbusters like Herbie: Fully Loaded and War of the Worlds have in common with a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver? The answer is Eric Norris. Norris, who will be driving the #07 Pavestone Chevrolet, fielded by Green Light Racing, at Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 29, balances a Hollywood show business career as a stuntman, movie director and actor with a NASCAR racing schedule.
This has been an extremely active year for the California based driver. Along with competing in several NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series events, Norris spends his days on Hollywood movie sets. Norris's real life NASCAR experience came into play when he worked as a NASCAR Driver in Herbie: Fully Loaded. Norris also worked on Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds where he performs in a fight scene taking punches from star Tom Cruise.
Eric is presently working on a comedy set in the world of NASCAR, featuring Will Ferrell as a NASCAR driver.
Norris just completed film work with Cruise in the upcoming Mission Impossible 3. This spring, he was in production on Jim Carrey's Fun with Dick and Jane, as well as working on the new HBO series Entourage. Of course he is always engaged with Walker, Texas Ranger, his father Chuck Norris's hit TV series, directing over 20 episodes of the famed show, which completed filming of a feature movie Walker, Texas Ranger-Trial by Fire, on which he was both Second Unit Director and Stunt Coordinator. That movie of the week aired on CBS, Sunday October 16. Norris has appeared in and directed television programs, movies and commercials. Norris is an 11-year member of the Stuntmen Association and has over 20 years experience in front of and behind the camera. Norris's other television and film credit include: Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, Anger Management, Ocean's 11, National Treasure, Anchorman, Gilmore Girls, Judging Amy, Arrested Development and ER.
Norris began racing and working in the film industry at a very early age. Over the years, Norris has driven in a multitude of racing series. He has competed in NASCAR Busch, Craftsman Truck and Grand National West Series. In fact in 2002, Eric gambled and clinched that Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, driving the Jani-King sponsored #32 Ford Taurus.
To onlookers, Norris lives a life that depicts the excitement and glamour of Hollywood. "I guess you could consider my life exciting, but I'm not sure about the glamour part," Norris says. "Hanging from a ladder all day, doing stunts on a movie set is far from glamorous. Sure, it all looks great when the film is put together, but its not always fun. When I find myself in that situation, I start thinking how much I would rather be on the racetrack."
According to Norris, NASCAR and film have a lot in common. "You have to be 150 percent committed to them both." Norris says. "These are not jobs, they're lifestyles. Regardless of whether you are on the racetrack or a set, you're constantly being challenged to do your best. If you don't love it, you couldn't do it for long. If this was easy, everyone would be doing it." Norris adds, "Both industries require your attention 24 /7. There is no time clock to punch. There are no sick days. There is a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes of a race and a film. Just take a look at a credit roll or a race team roster. The amount of people involved to get the job done is extensive. It may all look like magic, but it takes a lot of talented people to get the end result."
Norris finds himself doing radio interviews for an upcoming race while in the director's chair of a film project. He can be seen on his cell phone answering movie production questions as he walks down pit road. It is a balancing act. Keeping film, family, racing, traveling, sponsorships and production schedules all in perspective can be challenging. "But it is what I love to do. Sometimes the busier I am, the more I can get done." says Norris. "It involves a lot of hard work and dedication to build a reputation and a career in NASCAR or show business. It's hard to get these types of careers going. No one just hands it to you. You have to work for it everyday. When it finally clicks, when everything starts coming your way, you have to be ready for it. That's where preparation meets opportunity. You can't say, I'm tired or I don't have the time. Along the way, you have to prepare for success too. You build endurance and you learn to manage time and make sure your priorities are in the right order."
"My passion is and always has been racing," Norris states. "I made a commitment last year to race in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. We have been working on securing a full time sponsor. Sponsor hunting is not as easy as it looks," adds Norris with a smile. "I have a 5 year plan for my racing career. So far, we're on track with that effort. My NASCAR career is important to me. I really want to run full time. It takes a lot of effort to make racing come together. You have to work at it." Eric Norris is determined to make his mark. He is committed to showing he has what it takes to run competitively in the Craftsman Truck Series.
All this and he still has time for a family life. When not driving on a race track or working on a film set, Norris finds time to spend with his wife Stephanie, and their 3 daughters, Camrynn, Chloe, and Chantz, a very active life in itself. "My wife, who incidentally was my college sweetheart at Arizona State, has her own business and my girls are growing up. They are involved in everything and I try to be the father that is there for all of their activities. I look at the kids and think, where do they get the energy? I can hardly keep up with them," says Norris. "But, I love my family and my work. It is who I am."
Even though Eric Norris's life is always on the go, he feels fortunate to be able to do the things he wants to do. "How can you be unhappy if you are surrounded by family and friends? I touch my dreams everyday." Norris says, "I can't imagine living life any other way."
Eric Norris will compete in the NCTS race, driving the Green light Racing # 07 Pavestone Chevrolet, on Saturday October 29, 2005 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
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For More Information:
Contact: R. Pauline
Cell Phone: 570-840-1650
E-mail: Roxiep9@aol.com
posted by psyvhicjack @ 9:38 AM
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