Blake Koch’s Stairway to NASCAR Heaven

Close Racing (Moses Smith #16 - Blake Koch #21)

The K&N Pro Series is the highest level of NASCAR's developmental race series. Many great drivers have entered one of the three national NASCAR series from this level. Richard Childress, Joe Gibbs and Michael Waltrip are all team owners in the NKNPS.

Additionally the K&N Pro Series uses race cars that are similar to those used in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Therefore, it is only natural for a driver to move up from the K&N Pro Series to the Nationwide Series. While most drivers toil to that end, few are actually able to climb up that NASCAR Ladder.

Blake Koch is one of the lucky ones. I first had the opportunity to meet Blake when he raced in the NKNPS against my son. Moses and Blake were locked in tight battles race after race yet always managed to keep their encounters clean.

Blake Koch, of West Palm Beach, Florida, drove the for the Golden Gate - Richard Childress Racing Development Team for nine of the twelve K&N Pro Series West races in 2010. He collected ten top-ten finishes with three top-fives. His best finish of the year was a second place at the Toyota Speedway on the fourth of July weekend. Blake’s sponsors included Daystar, Tire Kingdom, I Am Second and Salt Life.

When I learned that Koch (pronounced “Cook”) would be driving the #81 for MacDonald Motorsports in the second Nationwide race at the Phoenix International Raceway, NASCAR Race Mom (NRM) had to interview him to learn what was up!

NRM: We missed seeing you at the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown this year. What have you been doing in the off-season?

Blake Koch: I Have been racing a little bit back in Florida, but we have mainly been trying to put deals together to run full time in the NASCAR Nationwide series. I have also been working a lot trying to make ends meet.

NRM: Tell all us fans what you and MacDonald Motorsports have planned for the year 2011?

Blake Koch: As of right now, the only thing guaranteed is PIR. MMS and I are working very hard and seeking every opportunity to run as many races as possible and compete for rookie of the year.

NRM: What influences shaped the way you approach your sponsor relationships?

Blake Koch: I think it is very important to surround yourself with good people, I put God first in my life and I try really hard to connect with sponsors that are OK with that.

NRM: The race this month at PIR will be your third start in the Nationwide Series. What have you learned from your previous Nationwide races?

Blake Koch: It will actually be my 4th start, I have learned that respect goes along way. You have to be really fast just to make the show, so team work and chemistry is really important. Getting on and off pit road is key too.

NRM: You have run at Phoenix International Raceway twice in the K&N Pro Series West. What is your favorite and least favorite aspect of this track?

Blake Koch: The fans are awesome in Phoenix!! You can race two wide there and that is always a plus with a race track. My least favorite is trying to get the car right with two completely different turns.

NRM: What's the biggest difference in style between racing in the K&N Pro Series West and the Nationwide series?

Blake Koch: The tires are a huge difference which makes your driving style change tremendously. There is also a lot more patience and respect going on in the Nationwide series. But the K&N series prepares you and develops us for a good transition.





Stats thanks to http://racingnewsdigest.com/

NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown K&N Pro Series Drivers

NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown K&N Pro Series Drivers

Photo by Pat Brandon

Top-Ten at the Showdown

Sunny California did not disappoint the racing crowd at the Toyota Speedway last weekend. The weather was in the warm seventies and the crowds were passionate.

While the first practice on Friday proved challenging for the #16 Hasa Pool Products/White Flyer Toyota Camry, the team’s drastic adjustments sparked optimism for the second/last practice. Their hard work was rewarded with improved lap times. Despite the tight competition (only 0.133 separated 10th position from 21st); Moses qualified in twenty-first position. He started the showdown just one place behind action sports star, Travis Pastrana.

Having successfully gained their spot in the Showdown, the team had a rare opportunity to relax together and watch the 50-lap “last chance” K&N Pro Series Qualifying race to finish up their night.

Race day started with a packed autograph session. Over 500 fans arrived early to speak to their favorite drivers and collect race memorabilia. At 8:35 p.m., Grand Marshal and NASCAR star Michael Waltrip waved the green flag to start the forty-car 225-lap K&N Pro Series Toyota All-Star main event.

It did not take long for the #16 Hasa Pool Products Toyota Camry’s strategy to go awry. On lap twenty-seven, Moses was among those involved in a multi-car accident between turns one and two. Left with nowhere to go, he t-boned his teammate, Eric Holmes.

This contact caused damaged to the front of the Camry and forced the toe out of alignment. Moses had to make two unscheduled pit stops to address the damage. Thanks to the skillful efforts of the Hasa Crew, the #16 Hasa Pool Products/White Flyer Toyota Camry rejoined the field in back of the pack, but on the lead lap.

For the remainder of the first one hundred lap segment, Moses protected his equipment as much as he could while avoiding several other crashes. The first competition pit stop afforded the crew the opportunity to complete additional repairs to the injured race car

During the long green flag runs in the second one hundred laps, Moses patiently moved up through the pack. For the start of the last twenty-five lap portion of the 2011 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, Moses took the green flag from thirteenth position.

He worked his way up to fifth place before oil from a competitor’s race vehicle made it difficult to maneuver the corners. During the last few laps of the race, caught up high and on the outside, Moses lost a crowd pleasing three-wide battle to finish the race in ninth place.

“It was a tough night, but we managed to salvage a top 10 out of it. At the end of the race, we were up to fifth. Unfortunately on that last restart, the #16 Hasa Pool Products / White Flyer Toyota got stuck behind another car that was dumping a bunch of oil. It cost us a few spots and we brought her home in ninth. What an awesome race!” Moses reported. “Thanks to all of the fans who came out or watched Team HASA on TV.”

The race lasted an hour and fifty minutes and was slowed by 11 cautions including two red flags and two competition yellows. The 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series season opener will be in conjunction with the top three national touring series at Phoenix International Raceway on February 24th.

first photo by Pat Brandon