Billy Ballew Motorsports announces today that 2006 AutoZone Southeast Series Tour Champion and team’s developmental driver, JR Norris will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in the No. 15 Flanders Beef Patties Chevrolet Silverado this weekend at Gateway International Raceway.

Norris, 27, has a vast amount of experience driving for Billy Ballew Motorsports crew chief Richie Wauters in the AutoZone Southeast Series. The two were introduced in 2003. Norris had known about Wauters reputation for the fastest cars on the circuit.

“Jason Hogan introduced us at the Snowball Derby in 2003,” Norris said. “Richie has always been known for fast cars. At the time, my dad and I talked and said that if we wanted to take racing a step further to a profession then I needed to be behind the wheel of some top equipment. I’ve learned a lot from Richie and had a lot of fun winning the AutoZone Southeast Series Championship last year.”

Norris has experience on and off the track of race cars and trucks. Part of Norris’s developmental program has been working at Billy Ballew Motorsports as the truck chief on the No. 15 Chevrolet Silverado. Norris is gaining the knowledge about the overall mechanics of the trucks and how important communication is between the drivers and the crew, providing him with the keys to be a more proficient driver behind the wheel.

“I think working on the truck is an asset to when you drive one,” Norris said. “It has helped me better communicate with my crew chief when I am racing. I’ve seen and felt the mechanical activity that could be causing a condition that needs adjusted. I believe this can help pinpoint the condition more accurately and timely.”

Team owner Billy Ballew has been looking for the opportunity to give Norris a shot behind the wheel and the opportunity came when Flanders Beef Patties came onboard to sponsor both the No. 51 and the No. 15 Chevrolet Silverado’s in the Ram Tough 200 at the 1.25-mile oval in St. Louis, MO.

This will be his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start but has been a NASCAR Busch Series team test driver in Richmond and in Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“I am extremely excited with the opportunity that Billy Ballew has given to me,” Norris said. “We have talked about this day for a long time and to have it all come together and to have a teammate like Kenny Wallace is a thrill. I look to learn from him. I have to thank Flanders Beef Patties for coming onboard both the No. 15 and the No. 51 NASCAR Craftsman Series Trucks this weekend and I hope to bring home a good finish for Chris Huff, all his employees and customers.”

Flanders Beef Patties is headquartered and produced in Waycross, Georgia and is the No. 1 selling economy beef patties in the United States. The product is sold in 49 states in all major grocery retailers and independent grocery retailers across the country. Flanders Beef Patties has been the primary sponsor for the No. 51 NASCAR Craftsman Truck at Dover and Michigan International Speedways and at the Bristol Motor Speedway.

The Ram Tough 200 (160 lap, 200 mile) race is slated to begin at 5:30pm ET with live televised coverage on SPEED beginning at 5:00pm ET. MRN Radio and their affiliates coverage begins at 5:15pm ET.

For more information on Billy Ballew Motorsports and JR Norris visit www.BillyBallewMotorsports.com and www.JRNorris.com.