Koch leads 17 laps at Colorado International

PRESS RELEASE - GOLDEN GATE RACING TEAM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 17, 2009
TEAM WEBSITE/CONTACT: Jim Offenbach, www.goldengateracingteam.com
GGRT MEDIA CONTACT: Bill Sullivan,  sullivanimages@sbcglobal.net
 

A Richard Childress Development NASCAR Team
 

 
Blake Koch drove the RCR/Golden Gate Racing Team-GodSpeaks.com #21 Chevrolet into the lead for 17 laps at Colorado International Speedway. A flat tire ended the top run but he rallied back to 14th at the checkered flag.
 
Pat Brandon Photo
________________________________________________________________________
Flat tire ends 17 lap lead position for Koch at Colorado International
 
By Bill Sullivan, GGRT Media Relations
 
SAN FRANCISCO –  In nearly every event this season Blake Koch and the Richard Childress – Golden Gate Racing Team have taken another step forward in their campaign in the NASCAR Camping World West Series. In the recent Toyota/Napa Auto Parts 150 at Colorado International Speedway such was the case once again.
            In his first ever visit to the Colorado facility, Koch adapted extremely well. After earning the second fastest time in practice he qualified third in the field with a time of 16:737 in the GodSpeaks.com #21 Chevrolet. The strong qualifying run positioned him on the inside of the second row for the 150 lap feature race.
            While all of his performances have been top notch throughout the season, Saturday’s run was by far Koch’s most impressive of the year so far. On the 82nd lap of the race, Koch went to the outside to pass two of the sport’s most competitive drivers, Paulie Harraka of New Jersey and Eric Holmes, the defending champion from Escalon, for the lead position.
            “My crew chief ,Steve Portenga, said I had plenty of room behind me while I was running in the top five and told me I could start searching for a better line to pass the guys in front of me,�?? said Koch. “They were all working the bottom so after about 20 laps I got the outside working and just went right to the front. It felt really good to be out front, leading was a huge confidence booster for me.�??
            Once in front, Koch pulled away from the field to lead a total of 17 laps in the event and appeared to be on his way to his first career NASCAR victory before his right front tire began losing air pressure and forced him to relinquish his impressive lead and later make a pit stop on lap 113 of the race.
            “The flat tire was unfortunate, but I still had a great time,�?? said Koch. “Steve walked me all the way through the race and right into the lead. I am guessing that God just wanted to give me a little taste of the lead before he gives me the whole thing.�??
            After returning to the track, Koch rallied back through the field in the closing laps of the race to finish 14th at the checkered flag. Harraka, Koch’s rival for the 2009 Sunoco Rookie of the Year award claimed the victory and the two drivers enter the final two races with just a single point between them in the coveted contest.
            In the 10 events that have taken place, Koch and the Golden Gate Racing Team have a total of six top ten finishes and one top five finish. The GodSpeaks.com #21 is currently 8th in the overall championship point standings, an outstanding performance for a driver who started the season very little NASCAR Racing experience.
“Blake is fulfilling everything we have set out to accomplish and beyond in the Golden Gate Racing Team-Richard Childress Driver Development program,�?? said Jim Offenbach, team owner of the San Francisco based Golden Gate Racing Team. “He is quickly becoming a very good race car driver. His ability to adapt to tracks he has never even been too and the little amount of actual race experience he had has made this a very exciting year for us.
            During the event at Colorado, Superior Farms joined the Golden Gate Racing Team to present an impressive BBQ for the event. Offenbach and the entire team extend their sincere kudos to the Superior Farms for their participation in the event.
            The Golden Gate Racing Team is thankful for each of its partners for the 2009 season including GodSpeaks.com, DayStar Television Network as well as Pat O’Keefe of Bay Bio Diesel, Salt Life and the Richard Childress Racing Driver Development Program. Due to the strong support of all of their dedicated sponsors, GGRT is well on their way to a successful finish in the NASCAR Camping World West Series.
            The next round of competition for the NASCAR Camping World West Series will be Iowa Speedway on September 4th followed by All American Speedway in Roseville on September 26th..
“I’m going into Iowa to win. It will be tough but I know I can do it. Steve and the entire GGRT/RCR team always give me something good to drive. If I can give them a little more feedback during the race I know we can put the GodSpeaks.com #21 right back out front again.�??
For additional information on the Golden Gate Racing Team please visit the team website at www.goldengateracingteam.com. Blake Koch’s personal web page can be viewed at www.blakekoch.com. For further information on the Richard Childress Driver Development Series visit www.rcrracing.com.

 
Jim Offenbach pictured with a member of the Superior Farms crew during the recent event at Colorado International Speedway. The Golden Gate Racing Team appreciated Superior Farms’ participation in the event.  Pat Brandon Photo.