Nance taking "Cavalier" approach in his return to competition at Norwalk

NORWALK, OH, pre-race: After a four year hiatus, former Pro Stock competitor and retired NBA 3-time All-Star, Larry Nance, will return to competition behind the wheel of the Larry Nance Racing/Hotcards.com Chevy Cobalt at this weekend's inaugural Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in front of his hometown fans in Norwalk , Ohio .

Nance will be squeezing his 6'10" frame into his Jerry Haas-built Cobalt that will feature livery from his former team, 2006-07 Eastern division champions and NBA finalists, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Considered by many as one of the greatest power forwards and shot blockers to ever play the game, the Cavs retired Nance's #22 jersey on January 30, 1995 in honor of seven outstanding seasons with the team.

"I knew that I would be racing in Norwalk ," Nance said, "and because they had such a great season and since I am 'a Cavalier for life' I wanted to honor them and race a car right here in front of our fans in recognition of the Cavs and the season they had. I think people will like it and will enjoy seeing it go down the track. It was an awesome year for the Cavs and their fans, I loved it."

Nance remains an extremely popular sports figure in the Cleveland area. Last weekend he was the Co-Grand Marshal of the Champ Car Cleveland Grand Prix, where he had a full display featuring his race car and a basketball court. Nance signed an estimated 5,000 autographs during the event in his effort to introduce new fans to drag racing and also try and secure financial backing to compete full-time on the NHRA POWERade tour.

"Obviously, I would love to qualify and go rounds on Sunday," explained Nance. "But I would really enjoy inviting some sponsors from the local area out to see what it's all about and what I do so they can understand what I've been talking about over the last couple of years. I want them to see first hand all of the opportunities and possibilities that they have at an NHRA national event. My main goal is to secure sponsorship to run the full 2008 season.

"I love how competitive the Pro Stock class is," said Nance, who won the very first Pro Stock race he ever competed in on the IHRA tour in Darlington in 1996. "I'm proud of Tommy Hammonds too, because he's an ex-NBA player and he's really put a good program together and he's doing well. And that's my ultimate goal, to put a good program together and be able to compete with these guys."

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In addition to Hotcards.com and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Nance will also be receiving support from High Shine Aerosol Spray Polish, Dick's Sporting Good's, and CORNWELL TOOLS.

The winner of the NBA's first slam dunk contest in 1984 is eager to return to racing down the quarter-mile at what can be considered his home track, Summit Racing Equipment Raceway Park , located an hour west of his Cleveland area home. Hopefully Nance can carry some of the Cavaliers winning mojo with him down the quarter-mile at Norwalk this weekend.