Norwood's passion for automobiles started at a young age. Bob Norwood began his racing career at age 13, driving a 1946 Ford Coupe, in Kansas where he competed in his first drag race. He continued drag racing while in high school, driving a six cylinder GMC G-Gas Coupe and later an A-Sports Corvette. After graduation Anderson Motors, a Chrysler dealer, sponsored Norwood requiring him to "get rid of the Corvette." Instead, they provided an altered wheel base funny car, an AFX Hemi Plymouth, following with three Hahn SS/DA Hemi-Cuda's. In 1971 he raced superstocks in a Hemi-Cuda reached number two in the world A/FC point standings. Norwood raced an AA/FC with Dale Armstrong and eventually moved to race the Lone Star Flyer, a BB/FC car.
