41 Blake Koch

YEAR-BY-YEAR NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES RECAP

2011: Finished 18th in series standings. ... Skipped two of the first three races then completed the season for owner Randy MacDonald. … Brought rookie of the year race down to Homestead-Miami finale before finishing second. … Best start, 13th at Texas-2 and Phoenix-2. … Career-best 14th-place finish, at Road America and Phoenix-2. … Average finish of 24.9. … Completed 91.1 percent of laps attempted.

2010: Finished 115th in series standings. … Made one start for owner Wayne Day, started 32nd and finished 22nd at Iowa.

2009: Finished 102nd in series standings. … Made two starts for owner Pat MacDonald, with best start (25th) and finish (17th) at Memphis in series debut.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY

In 2010, competed in nine of 12 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races for owner Jim Offenbach, working with NASCAR Touring Division veteran Steve Portenga. Had six top-10 starts and average start of 9.0, best finish of second at Irwindale and average finish of 11.0. … Also made sole ARCA Racing Series start of his career, at hometown Palm Beach International Raceway for owner Eddie Sharp, starting and finishing third. … In 2009, competed in full 13-race K&N West for Offenbach and finished second in the rookie of the year race. Nine top-10 starts with average start of 10.0. Six top-10 finishes, best of fifth and average finish of 10.8. … In 2008, made K&N West debut for Offenbach with a fourth-place start at Roseville in solo race. … Made handful of stock car starts around native Florida in late model stock cars after initial experience, at age 20, in Florida FasTruck Series. … Raced motocross from age nine to 18.

NOTEWORTHY

Last name is pronounced "cook." … He and wife Shannon are expecting their first child this summer. … Couple has a yellow lab, "Junior," who joins them at the bulk of the season's races. … Enjoys public speaking and assisting those in need. … Took break from racing to obtain an Associates Degree in Marketing and Business at Northwood University in hometown of West Palm Beach, Fla., and did not make his first lap in a stock car until right before his 21st birthday. … Enjoys watching motocross. … Active on Twitter: @BlakeKochRacing.