TriStar Motorsports adds Blake Koch to NASCAR driver line-up
By Jeff Adcox
Entering their fifth season of NASCAR Nationwide Series competition, TriStar Motorsports recently announced the addition of Blake Koch to its full-time driver roster for the 2014 season. Koch, a native of West Palm Beach, Fla., joins the team fresh off an 11th place finish at the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.
“I’m extremely excited, blessed and proud to join TriStar Motorsports,” said Koch. “Mark Smith (founder of TriStar Motorsports) has been in NASCAR for a long time and is respected by everyone in the garage. His team has evolved into a quality race team with continuous growth and a great reputation. There are talented people in place to build fast race cars and we will have strong Toyota engines supplied by his company, Pro Motor Engines. I’m also looking forward to working with teammates that I can lean on like Mike Bliss and Eric McClure. Daytona can’t come soon enough!”
The 28-year-old ran a limited schedule in 2013, yet still finished 25th in the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Point Standings, marking his best finish since joining the series in 2009.
“Blake will be a fresh face to our veteran roster,” explained Smith. “He’s a talented and passionate driver with a lot of potential. I’m really looking forward to working with him this season.”
Koch will join returning TriStar Motorsports drivers, Mike Bliss and Eric McClure, as the team continues to grow its NASCAR Nationwide Series program.