NASCAR's Blake Koch welcomes Tire Kingdom

For Immediate Release, January 29, 2010 
Media Contact: Bill Sullivan: sullivanimages@sbcglobal.net 
Team Information: www.goldengateracingteam.com 
  
Tire Kingdom joins Blake Koch and Golden Gate Racing Team
 
By Bill Sullivan, GGRT Media Relations 
  
SAN FRANCISCO -  Blake Koch and the Golden Gate - Richard Childress Racing Development Team are proud to welcome Tire Kingdom as their newest marketing partner. Tire Kingdom will support the Daystar Network #21 Chevrolet in the upcoming NASCAR, K&N Pro Series West as the team's newest associate sponsor. Additionally, the well known automotive service chain will partner with Koch in his popular faith based outreach efforts throughout the year. 
  
"I am so excited about our new relationship with Tire Kingdom," said Koch, as he prepared for the upcoming NASCAR Toyota Showdown Thursday afternoon. "I love all of the ideas they have about maximizing their sponsorship this year. 
  
Tire Kingdom is a tire and automotive service center that provides a variety of services performed by trained and certified ASE technicians using state-of-the-art equipment. It is one of four brands that operate under the TBC Retail Group (TBC). 
Headquartered in Juno Beach , Florida , the Retail Division of TBC Corporation operates more than 770 company-owned stores under the brands: Tire Kingdom , NTB - National Tire and Battery, and Merchant’s Tire and Auto Centers , along with nearly 500 franchised Big O Tire locations. TBC employs more than 300 associates at its Juno Beach headquarters and approximately 10,000 associates nationally. 
  
 “We are thrilled to be an associate sponsor of Blake Koch," said Bill Ihnken, Executive Vice President and COO of TBC Retail Group.  “As a corporation, we tend to support young organizations and those with the entrepreneurial spirit.  Blake and his team epitomize the entrepreneurial spirit with drive, commitment, dedication and perseverance.  We look forward to watching this team move to the next level.�?? 
  
Koch and the Golden Gate Racing Team are a unique combination in the sport of NASCAR and one of the first teams to field a faith based title sponsorship. Koch is known for his accessibility to fans and fellow competitors and is grateful for the opportunity he has been presented with to become one of NASCAR's future stars. The 24-year-old Florida native feels that Tire Kingdom posses many of the same qualities of his team, making the new associate sponsorship and his outreach efforts a perfect addition to the upcoming season. 
  
"Tire kingdom has a long standing reputation of integrity and honesty to their customers," adds Koch. Their brand fits right in with the values of this team and myself. I look forward to marketing their brand during this season." 
  
Last year marked the first full season of NASCAR racing for Koch as he was signed by Jim Offenbach and Richard Childress as the primary driver of the Golden Gate Racing Team. After finishing runner up for the Rookie of the Year title in the NASCAR West Series, the entire team is ready to contend for the series championship this season, which began with the NASCAR Showdown at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California this weekend.  The Showdown is a non-points event that culminates the previous season and the year to come in what is known as "the Daytona 500 of short track racing." 
  
Following the  Toyota Showdown, the K&N Pro West Series will kick off its 57th championship season on March 27 with the first of 12 western races at 10 different venues in the months to come. Koch will also be competing in five select NASCAR Nationwide races in 2010 where he will also be supported by Tire Kingdom. 
  
Tire Kingdom joins a stellar group of quality marketing partners of The Golden Gate Racing Team. The Daystar Television Network is the team's primary sponsor. Additional associate sponsors include San Francisco's Golden Gate Meat Company, Superior Lamb Company, Golden Gate Petroleum, Hill Meat Company, Foodcomm International and Signco. 
  
For an in depth look at the Golden Gate Racing Team and additional news visit their website at www.goldengateracingteam.com. Blake Koch's personal web site can be found at www.blakekoch.com. To learn more about their newest associate sponsor, Tire Kingdom visit www.tirekingdom.com or locate the store nearest you call 800-NEW-TIRES.