RACE REPORT - GOLDEN GATE RACING TEAM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA.

A RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING DRIVER DEVELOPMENT TEAM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JUNE 19, 2009
GGRT MEDIA CONTACT: Bill Sullivan, sullivanimages@sbcglobal.net


Koch survives road course qualifying debut to make the cut with GGRT teammate O’Keefe for Bennett Lane Winery 200



SONOMA – Prior to Friday afternoon, Blake Koch of West Palm Beach Florida has never even driven on a road course. When the checkered flag waved on the final group of qualifiers at Infineon Raceway for the NASCAR Camping World West series, Koch accomplished what he set out to do from the moment he arrived in the Wine Country.

The primary driver of the Golden Gate Racing –Richard Childress Racing Development team drove the Godspeaks.com #21 Chevrolet into the starting field of Saturday’s Bennett Lane Winery 200 by Supercuts. Koch will be joined in the line up by teammate Pat O’Keefe who muscled the Bay BioDiesel GGRT/RCR #31 into Saturday’s race after his first time in the driver’s seat this season.

“For my first time on a road course I was pretty happy with the time,” said Koch. “The important thing was, we got faster every time we went out during the day.”

Koch drove the GodSpeaks.com #21 to the 23rd position in qualifying. The former motocrosser who’s four wheeled racing experience includes speedway trucks and late models prior to the NASCAR West series reached a top speed of 88:655 miles per hour around the 11 turn Infineon Raceway to earn a lap time of 80.808 seconds.

O’Keefe is the Vice President of BayBio Diesel, a longtime marketing partner to Golden Gate Racing., The former jet ski and modified racer competes in a limited number of races during the season. Friday was O’Keefe’s first event of 2009, he made the show with a speed of 85.351 seconds and a laptime of 83.936 seconds, earning him 36th in the line up that will include 40 cars Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Gate Racing Team is grateful for each of its partners for the 2009 season including GodSpeaks.com, DayStar Television Network as well as Pat O’Keefe of Bay Bio Diesel and the Richard Childress Racing Driver Development Program. Due to the strong support of all of their dedicated sponsors, GGRT is well on their way to a successful campaign in the NASCAR Camping World West Series.

For additional information on the Golden Gate Racing Team please visit the team website at www.goldengateracingteam.com. Blake Koch’s personal web page can be viewed at www.blakekoch.com. For further information on the Richard Childress Driver Development Series visit www.rcrracing.com.

Koch and O’Keefe drive to impressive finishes in road course racing debut during Bennett Lane Winery 200 at Infineon

By Bill Sullivan, GGRT Media Relations

SONOMA – The Golden Gate Racing Team and Richard Childress Racing Development are proud to announce a weekend of great success in the Bennett Lane Winery 200 at Infineon Raceway.

With two drivers competing in their very first road course events, the checkered flag waved at the end of the day with primary driver Blake Koch placing 11th in the GodSpeaks.com #21 Chevrolet and Pat O’Keefe placing 18th in the Bay BioDiesel #31 Chevrolet. Both drivers charged from deep in the field to earn their respective finishes.

"This is an owners dream, we ran in the top ten for much of the race and without a scratch on the either car," said team owner Jim Offenbach. "Both cars did well and I am proud of Blake and Pat. Not only was this Blake’s first road course, it was Pat’s first NASCAR Camping World West Road Course event this year and he finished 18th respectively. I’m very proud of this whole team".

Koch qualified 23rd for Saturday’s race and once again illustrated great patience throughout the day to carefully work his way through the twists and turns of the 11-turn road course in the hills of Sonoma. Despite an early misjudged pit stop, Koch became the highest finishing rookie in the race, earning the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award for the second time this season.

"I’m really happy with the way our day turned out, I didn’t know what to expect coming into a road course with no experience at all," said Koch. "When I started the race I thought we had an ignition problem and came in which was unfortunate. Had I switched over the back up system I think I could have been in the top ten. But I’m very happy with this finish. I have to thank Steve Portenga (crew chief) and God for all of their guidance here."

A former driver himself, Portenga is known for his great communication with Golden Gate Racing Team’s drivers and crew. Saturday was no exception as he walked Koch through every turn and twist over the radio. In the end he too was impressed with the outcome.

"Our mission was accomplished in Sonoma , we did exactly what we set out to do," said Portenga. "Blake was very careful, we had a good strong finish and we ended up moving up a spot in the point standings and taking the rookie lead over again. I was happy with both cars, Pat was out there to have a good time and he did just that. He stayed out of trouble and moved up really well. Both cars came back from Infineon intact, I’m happy with the way these guys performed."

Saturday’s event was one of the few that take place during the year in which the Camping World West Series and the Sprint Cup Series compete on the same weekend. It’s events like this that provide Richard Childress, President of Richard Childress Racing, an opportunity to watch his development drivers, such as Koch, from the top of the pit box and view the team’s progress in person.

"Blake proved he is up to any challenge we throw at him," said Childress. "I was impressed how he handled this tough road course."

Following Saturday’s success, Koch and the Godspeaks.com #21 Chevrolet are now eighth in the overall NASCAR Camping World West Series point standings. Seven races are complete in the 13 race campaign. Koch earned the Sunoco Rookie of the race award for the second time this season after becoming the highest finishing rookie driver in Saturday’s race.

For O’Keefe, Saturday was not only his first road course, it marked his first race of the year behind the wheel of Offenbach's second car. The Pleasant Hill resident who is the vice president of longtime team sponsor Bay BioDiesel qualified 37th and finished 18th at the end of the day.

"We had a great time," said O'Keefe, a former successful Jet Ski racer and Grand American Modified driver. "I learned a ton during the race. We are happy with the finish and the car came home in one piece."

O’Keefe is scheduled to race a limited number of races with Golden Gate throughout the season.

The Golden Gate Racing Team is grateful for each of its partners for the 2009 season including GodSpeaks.com, DayStar Television Network as well as Bio Diesel and the Richard Childress Racing Driver Development Program. Due to the strong support of all of their dedicated sponsors, GGRT is well on their way to a successful campaign in the NASCAR Camping World West Series.

man did i have a great time at that race,, not only did i have a blast on the track, but i got to witness to some people in the pits, thats what its all about... i want to thank godspeaks for the outreach tool (NASCAR) to change lives..

Very cool. Not too many people have THAT kind of opportunity...to discuss God and his place in our lives with others in the pits at a NASCAR race. That's what it's all about brother! Way to go Blake!!