For 1997 Norick ran just fifteen races but gained financial backing from the National Hockey League, which arranged for a different team to be featured on the truck at each event. Norick posted a best finish of the season at Homestead, in the second race of the year and the first with NHL sponsorship, finishing tenth; Norick finished the season 25th in series points. The NHL returned with a full season's sponsorship for 1998; Norick's team, based in Blythe, California, added a second truck for veteran Butch Miller, with sponsorship from Dana. Norick had a best finish of seventh at Sears Point International Raceway, a new career best, but failed to qualify for two races; he finished 23rd in the series standings at the end of the year. Norick also competed in six events in the NASCAR Winston West Series during the 1998 season, posting a best finish of seventh at California Speedway in July.