Veteran Crew chief leads Roush Fenway’s ‘Next Generation’ into ‘World Center of Racing”
Daytona Beach, Fla. (Feb. 22, 2012) – Roush Fenway veteran crew chief Chad Norris enters what many consider NASCAR’s biggest stage – Daytona Speedweeks – with his hands firmly on the cusp of RFR’s future. Norris will crew chief both the No. 60 Roush Fenway Nationwide team with phenom driver and defending Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne on Saturday, before guiding NASCAR nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the famed Daytona 500 on Sunday.
“It’s a full week of work for sure, but we don’t expect to see it get boring,” said Norris. “To have the opportunity to work with both of the young drivers here at Roush Fenway is truly rewarding. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of veteran guys during my time in NASCAR, and when you work with these guys you realize you are working with the future, you start to feel that tie that bonds those generations together and as a race fan you can’t help but be excited about the sport’s future.”
Norris knows talent, having worked with top caliber drivers such as Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth and Darrell Waltrip during his NASCAR tenure, and he says it’s the competitive fire in both Bayne and Stenhouse that he likens them to the veterans of his NASCAR past.
“They are both unique and different in many ways,” said Norris, who led Bayne to his first win in the Nationwide Series last fall at Texas. “But they both have a competitive fire that burns deep and an innate will to win that is second to none. The proof is in the results. In a very short time, Trevor is a Daytona 500 champion and he followed that up by running strong and winning a Nationwide Series.
“Stenhouse’s progress has been remarkable,” added Norris. “In a very short time he has willed his way into being a guy who is there week-in and week-out and became a true NASCAR Champion. You have to like the way the future of our organization – and our sport – looks with competitors like Trevor and Ricky arriving on the scene.
“The scary thing is,” added Norris. “They are only going to get better.”
In addition, Norris – along with Stenhouse – will be making his first start as a crew chief in the famed Daytona 500 on Sunday.
“It’s a big event for sure and of course it’s something you think about coming up through the ranks of racing,” admits Norris. “But I’ve been at this for a while, and I know what we have to do is go out and run our race. We have to give Ricky a car that can have him there at the end and see where the chips fall. We saw what happened last year with Trevor and knowing their competitive nature I could see them both coming off turn four fighting to win this thing. That would be a pretty rewarding moment for all of us and pretty exciting for everyone watching. ”
About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is the winningest team in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series with championship drivers Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne. Celebrating 25 winning years in 2012, Roush Fenway is the leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, pioneering its exclusive Roush Fenway OnTrack sponsorship measurement services, motorsport’s first team-focused TV show and its award-winning social marketing channel RickyvsTrevor.com. Visit www.RoushFenway.com, circle on Google+ at +Roush Fenway Racing, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roushfenway and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway. For sponsorship inquiries call John Bauersfeld at 704.720.4621.
