Driver will have new number for 2015 XFINITY Series season
TriStar Motorsports announced Wednesday that Blake Koch will return to the Mark Smith-owned team in the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2015.
Koch is scheduled to drive all 33 races, but in Toyotas fielding a new car number — No. 8. The 29-year-old Floridian, who has competed in the majority of XFINITY Series events for the last four seasons, drove cars numbered 10, 44, 23 and 91 over a 28-race slate last year.
“After a good 2014 season, I am excited to be back with TriStar Motorsports for the 2015 season,” Koch said in a news release provided by the team. “I am looking forward to working with Bruce Cook and the No. 8 crew and can’t wait to get to Daytona.”
Koch wound up 24th in the final 2014 standings with a best finish of 18th place at Phoenix International Raceway in November. His top result in 114 career starts in the XFINITY Series was an 11th-place in the 2013 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“We are happy to have Blake Koch back with our team for the 2015 season,” Smith said. “Blake did well with our team last season and we look forward to building on that success throughout the 2015 season.”
Last year, Cook served as the crew chief for nine races with the No. 80 team in the XFINITY Series. In those races, he served as the crew chief for Alex Bowman (one race), Ross Chastain (five races) and Johnny Sauter (three races) in 2014. Before that, Cook served as the crew chief for Ron Hornaday Jr. in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the 2013 season. He has one victory in his career in XFINITY competition, overseeing Tony Stewart‘s win in the 2011 season opener at Daytona International Speedway in what was then called the Nationwide Series.
The Mooresville, North Carolina-based organization indicated that sponsorship announcements for the No. 8 team would be made “in the upcoming weeks.”