BUFFALO TWP — With nearly 10 years of Late Model racing under his belt, Michael Norris is one of the veterans in that division at Lernerville Speedway.

And he's only 23.

The 2010 Knoch graduate and Sarver resident began racing at age 15. He began helping out with his father's race car before that.

“Dad's career dated back into the 1970s,” Norris said. “He got out of it for a few years when my sister was born, then raced again from 2003 to 2007. That's when I started helping out.”

Mike Norris, who won a Limited Late Model points championship earlier in his career, won the Late Model points crown at Latrobe Speedway in 2006. He compiled 14 feature wins in his career.

When elder Mike was done racing after the 2007 season, younger Mike was ready to begin.

“He couldn't wait to get going,” Norris' father said. “I figured, we already had the equipment, we had the race car, why not let him use it?”

But he had to pay his dues first.

Norris made sure his son got 250 practice laps in at Marion Center, then another 150 laps in as part of the Donnie Moran racing school in Ohio.

“Before I let him run a race, I had to be sure he knew what he was doing,” the elder Norris said.

That test has been passed.

Michael Norris picked up his 12th career feature win — and fifth at Lernerville — last week. He won the points title at Pittsburgh Motor Speedway in 2012.

Entering Fab Four racing tonight, Norris is fourth in Late Model points, trailing only defending champion Alex Ferree, Jared Miley and Mike Pegher Jr.

He held off Ferree for 21 laps in winning last Friday's feature here.

“Winning a feature on this track any time is an accomplishment because of the competition,” Norris said. “Ultimately, I'd love to win a points title here. But so many things have to break your way.”

Norris' win last Friday was his first at Lernerville since midseason last year. He wound up totaling both of his race team's cars later in the season.

“We had a new car sitting at home — just a frame — that we had to get ready for this year, out of necessity,” he joked.

Norris has posted a couple of heat race wins so far in 2015 and his father believes Michael's career may be turning the corner.

“He's a good driver,” he said. “Michael could do very well here for a number of years yet.”

Norris has never raced anything other than a Late Model and doesn't plan to change. One of his best friends from high school, Zach Schwartz, is his crew chief.

When Schwartz started hanging around the garage, he admitted he knew nothing about race cars.

“I went to Latrobe a couple of times when his dad was racing,” Schwartz said. “Then I started to come by his house after school and started helping out.

“The race game pulls you in. I just got hooked.”

Schwartz estimates he spends three to five hours a night, four or five times a week, working on the car.

“It's like a 40-hour a week job, but I love it,” he said. “I just learn as I go. I'm still learning. So far this year, the car has been fast when we've unloaded it each Friday.”

While Norris hasn't raced regularly at PPMS since winning the points championship there, he said he plans to race there each Saturday through the end of this season.

“We do well there and it's a place to go on Saturdays,” he said.

The Norris family business involves two salvage yards and a 24-hour towing service. When time permits, he's hopeful of expanding his team's racing venues.

“We'd love to get out there a lot more, but we have to take care of business first,” he said. “I imagine that time will come.”

In the meantime, Norris will try to see to it that the wins keep coming.

“We've got a good car, but things still have to go your way on the track ...good starting position, hit the set-up, lapped traffic ... but I think we're better than we've ever been,” he said.

Lernerville Points Standings

(top 15 through June 5)

Sprints

A.J. Flick 223, Brandon Matus 185, Ed Lynch Jr. 172, Carl Bowser 171, Brandon Spithaler 157, Brent Matus 157, Scott Priester 141, Sye Lynch 117, Zach Morrow 104, Ralph Spithaler Jr. 103, Dan Kuriger 96, Jim Morris 89, Davey Jones 81, Jack Sodeman Jr. 80, Dan Shetler 75

Late Models

Alex Ferree 209, Jared Miley 203, Mike Pegher Jr. 176, Michael Norris 173, Russ King 161, Kenny Schaltenbrand 159, Gary Lyle 134, John Garvin Jr. 124, Todd Bachman 123, Brian Swartzlander 107, Chuck Sarver 104, Clayton Kennedy 103, Dan Swartzlander 93, Doug Eck 71, John Mollick 65

Modifieds

Mat Williamson 218, Brian Swartzlander 212, Rex King Jr. 194, Garrett Krummert 179, Dave Murdick 164, Rex King 153, Steve Feder 143, Shawn Fleeger 134, Mike Turner 130, Jeremiah Shingledecker 121, Rick Regalski 118, Tom Winkle 104, Carl Murdick 101, Jeff Miller 89, Rodney Beltz 69

Sportsman Stocks

Corey McPherson 246, Jim Fosnaught 213, Brett McDonald 211, Joe Kelley 208, Wayne Carbo 206, Mike Miller 189, Bob Egley 185, Terry Young 178, Joey Zambotti 167, Jeff Miller 146, Aaron Easler 143, Scott Byers 133, Paul Schreckengost 123, Colin Burke 99, Noah Brunell 96