Photo Credit: Noel Lanier/OnPitRoad.com
Following a wild race at Daytona International Speedway last weekend, Kaulig Racing and driver Blake Koch return to the Atlanta Motor Speedway seeking to continue momentum and gain redemption from their finish in 2016.
Koch was able to gain a 15th place finish last weekend after being collected in a few accidents, and enters the race weekend at Atlanta tied for eighth in NASCAR Xfinity Series points. It will also be the first time the new format will be seen at the Atlanta, and he seems excited.
“I loved the way NASCAR’s new points system and segments played out last week at Daytona. I’m really excited to try out the new down-force package this weekend as that will add an element to this race that wasn’t really a factor last week. I feel like we deserve redemption at Atlanta after having such a strong run last year foiled by a flat tire with two laps to go,” he said in a team release
He’ll race at Atlanta for the seventh time in his career in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and has a best finish of 20th coming last season behind the wheel of the No. 11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet Camaro. He ran in the top-15 for the majority of the day before suffering a flat tire in the final few laps of the race.
Chris Rice, veteran crew chief for Koch, returns to the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the seventh time of his career. He has scored one top-10 finish in the Xfinity Series at Atlanta with Kenny Wallace back in 2004 when he finished 7th. He also has one top-10 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at the track in 2015 with James Buescher when he finished 8th.
