Nationwide Series - Sunoco Rookie Of The Year Battle Close With 10 To Go

Daytona, August 24, 2011: Timmy Hill and Blake Koch continue their close Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings battle. Hill leads by three points with 10 races to go. And if recent results are any indication, that competition should remain tight this weekend. Hill was 29th and Koch was 30th following their series track debuts at Bristol in March.

Hill, a Port Tobacco, Md., native cut his teeth in the NASCAR ladder system. In 2010 he competed in both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West and in 2009, he posted 10 victories in the Allison Legacy Series on his way to his national championship that year.

This season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Hill has made 22 starts and posted three top-15 finishes including his career best 11th-place finish at Road America.

Koch, a West Palm Beach, Fla., native also honed his skills in the NASCAR ladder system. Koch participated part-time for three different seasons in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, posting four top fives and 13 top 10s in 23 starts.

This season, Koch has made 22 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts, posting four top-20 finishes including his best finish of 14th at Road America.