Racing Legend Al Unser Jr. Is Married To Norma Lawrence An Evansville NativeÂ
Norma Lawrence Unser and her twin sister Liz Lawrence Childers went to Reitz High School 95’ and are graduates of the University of Southern Indiana 00’. Norma and Al Jr. were introduced through Future Star Racing and the Wings and Wheels Foundation a 501c3 formed to advance the careers of promising young drivers in the next level of achievement in racing by awarding scholarships. Since meeting Al is the Director of Competition and driver coach, Norma is Executive Director with a focus on raining funds to apply towards scholarships. Al and Norma were married in her sister’s backyard on September 30th. Â
Winning came naturally to “Little Alâ€. Born into one of the most prominent families in the history of auto racing, he had a natural talent for going fast and winning races. Following in the footsteps of his father, Al, and his uncle, Bobby, he won a number of championships on his way up the ladder to the very top echelons of open-wheel racing. In 2007 he was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and in 2009, to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. But even though the book is packed with fantastic racing anecdotes and insider accounts, Al Unser Jr: A Checkered Past, is more than just another motor racing book. Unser shares deeply personal stories about his life away from the race track and his struggles with mental health. He tells how the demons of drug and alcohol addiction fueled the destruction of his personal and financial life, even as his career flourished. The book is an unblinking look at how even our most celebrated sports heroes struggle with human frailty. His battle to climb out of the darkness is one of the great stories in motorsports, one that he hopes will provide help and inspiration to others fighting their own demons. In the words of Motorsport magazine’s Damien Smith, this book is “a brave and astonishing piece of work in its unflinching, brutal honesty.â€
Contact Jo Snyder at jo@octanepress.com or 1.512.507 7867 for further information, with interview requests, or to secure media review copies, images, or excerpts for publication. To learn more about Octane Press, visit octanepress.com.
About the Authors
Alfred Unser Jr. (born April 19, 1962) nicknamed “Little Al,” is a retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner. Al started racing go-karts at the age of nine, and by the age of sixteen he was already racing sprint cars. Soon after high school he moved into road racing, winning the Super Vee title in1981 and the Can-Am title in 1982. He was a key member of many notable teams throughout his career and made a name for himself while driving for Galles Racing, Doug Shierson Racing, Team Penske, and others. In 2007 he was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and, shortly after, in 2009, was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Jade Gurss. Best-selling author Jade Gurss has written a series of motorsports books (Racer, Beast, In the Red, Driver #8) that capture the behind-the-scenes drama and intrigue of racing at the highest levels. His award-winning and immensely popular work has included chronicling driver’s stories including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, and John Andretti. Gurss is the owner of fingerprint inc. and has done extensive work in marketing and publicity for Ilmor Engineering, Mercedes-Benz, and Mazda. He resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.
BOOK SIGNING SCHEDULE
February 19, 2022 12-2 pm
Victory Theatre
600 Main Street
Evansville, IN 47708
Al Unser Jr will be present signing books; books can be purchased on site.
This event is hosted by Bluestocking Social. For questions about the event, call: 812.402.2055.
