SAN FRANCISCO, California — The Golden Gate Racing Team and Richard Childress Driver Development are pleased with their success in the 2009 NASCAR Camping World West championship season. After 13 events, the San Francisco based team owned by area businessman Jim Offenbach ended the year with an eighth place finish in the western series’ point standings and is already gearing up for the 2010 racing season.
"Now it’s time to set my sights on winning races and a championship."— Blake Koch
The 2009 NASCAR Camping World Campaign berthed a relationship between rookie driver Blake Koch of West Palm Beach Florida and the longtime successful Bay Area Race team. Prior to strapping into the GGRT/RCR GodSpeaks.com #21 Chevrolet, Koch had very little experience behind the wheel of a fully equipped NASCAR stock car. The former motocrosser that had less than two dozen races in a car of any type under his belt proved he was born to race, while entire GGRT crew rallied behind their new wheelman. During the entire season, the team carried a very powerful message in the form of sponsorship throughout the season as one of the first NASCAR teams operating under the sponsorship of a faith based organization.
“This entire season was such a learning curve for me with less than 20 starts in a car period prior to this year,” said Koch. “I thank God for teaming me up with the best crew chief and team in the series. We achieved a lot of our goals but not all of them. We were the fastest in practice a couple of times, we lead laps, but we didn’t get our pole position or win. That’s something that will come in time for sure.”
During the 2009 campaign, Koch started all 13 of the NASCAR Camping World West series events. During those races he scored six top 10 finishes and one top five.Koch finished 8th out of the 73 different drivers who earned points in the chase.
Throughout the year, Koch was among a closely-watched contest for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award with New Jersey’s Paulie Harraka. Koch and Harraka swapped the Sunoco Rookie point lead back and forth throughout the season with Harraka edging Koch for the honor entering the final race of the year.
“I gave it a good run and it was close for most of the year,” said Koch. “I’d like to congratulate Harraka on the Rookie title. He certainly earned it and had a great year. Now it’s time to set my sights on winning races and a championship.”
Entering the final race of the season at All American Speedway in Roseville, California Koch was poised to close the season with potential victory. The team was second in practice and qualified fourth for the Toyota Copart 150. Six laps into the race, Koch was the victim of a spin when defending champion Eric Holmes suffered a brake loss and both competitors spun. Koch recovered to finish 14th in the final race of the year.
“There isn’t too much to say about the final race other than I had a great time with my team and the car was very fast. We were only able to show how fast the car was for a few laps before Holmes lost his brakes and we got together. We still came back pretty strong considering the setback.”
In addition to Koch’s success during the year, longtime team member and GGRT Sponsor Pat O’Keefe of Bay Bio Diesel returned to the driver’s seat of the GGRT secondary car for a road racing event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. A former modified racer, O’Keefe has raced a limited number of races for GGRT and his return to the seat was a memorable one with a 18th place finish among the league’s top road racing wheelmen.
“It was a pleasure to have Pat in our second car again,” said Offenbach. “Pat has been a great contributor to this team and we look forward to having him drive in more events in 2010. I can’t thank him and all of our sponsors enough for all of their support.”
The Golden Gate Racing Team is thankful for each of its partners for the 2009 season including their 2009 primary sponsor GodSpeaks.com, the DayStar Television Network, Bay Bio Diesel, Salt Life, Spy Sunglasses, Superior Farms, Hill Meat Company or Pendelton, Oregon, NOS Energy Drinks, and Sullivan Images Media Specialties.
The team is grateful for the support from the Richard Childress Racing Driver Development Program. Due to the strong support of all of their dedicated partners, GGRT is well on their way to a successful finish in the NASCAR Camping World West Series.
For additional information on the Golden Gate- Richard Childress Driver Development Racing Team please visit the official team website at www.goldengateracingteam.com. For further information on the Richard Childress Driver Development Series visit www.rcrracing.com.
