Koch, FilterTime Teams with JD Motorsports

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

After sponsorship sidelined Blake Koch in 2018, the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver will return with sponsorship from his own company, FilterTime in 2019. He will drive the JD Motorsports No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro SS that Ross Chastain put in the 2018 Playoffs.

Koch famously put the up-start Kaulig Racing into the 2016 and 2017 Xfinity Series Playoffs. In an upset, he positioned the team to make the second round of the Playoffs in its’ inaugural season. In those two seasons, Koch earned 10 top-10 finishes and one pole position.

“It’s hard for me to explain how excited I am to race again and to do it for JD Motorsports,” Koch said. “I have seen the progress of this team and have raced against them for many years. Coming off their best season with Ross (Chastain) making the playoffs, it’s a perfect time to join them.”

Team owner Johnny Davis has given many drivers a chance to race. In addition to Chastain, 11 other drivers took the reigns of at least one of his four Chevrolets. Both Chastain and Garrett Smithley earned one top-five finish each for the organization in 2018. In total, the team earned eight top-10 finishes last season.

“We are excited to get Blake back in a race car,” Davis said. “He is another overlooked talent that needs an opportunity to race, and we’re happy to have him at our organization.”

After putting Kaulig Racing’s No. 11 Chevrolet into the Playoffs in two consecutive seasons, a lack of sponsorship forced the team to make a change early in 2018. Ryan Truex replaced Koch two months prior to the season. Unable to find sponsorship, Koch sat out last season, and started FilterTime to help fund a return to the drivers’ seat.

“Johnny has given me an amazing opportunity to be back in the series and to also have my company, FilterTime, on the car,” he said. “This is truly a dream come true. I started this company to eventually get me back in a seat, and it’s happening.”