There is a new face in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and it's that of 25 year dirt track veteran Mike Koch. He recently started in his first asphalt race a few weeks ago at Salem, and also competed at Toledo and the most recent event at Kentucky.
He's raced on dirt tracks from New Mexico to South Carolina at tracks like Summer Speedway in NC, I-30 Speedway in AR, and Lebanon Speedway in MO, picking up many victories along the way.
He's raced in classes from Hobby Stock to Late Models. He spent 1978-1981 in Hobby Stock, then moved up to Super Stock where he raced for six years. After Super Stock he moved on to Limited Late Models and raced there for five years. Also while racing himself, he pit crewed for the 1988 Regional and National NASCAR Late Model Driver and was crew chief for 3 other lower division cars that all took 2nd in Regional points. In 1993 he moved up to Late Models and while running there ran with the MLRA series, MARS, UDTRA, and the Have-A-Tampa Late Model Series. In 1997 he was ranked amoung the top 50 Dirt Late Model drivers in the nation. In 2000 and 2001 along with running in the Late Model division he also drove an IMCA modified. He recently decided to switch to the ARCA RE/MAX Series and is having fun meeting new people and visiting new tracks.
I had a chance to ask Mike a few questions and here's what he had to say:
Beth_ITPB: What sparked your interest in racing?
Mike Koch: My dad raced when I was just a little kid, and I helped him with the cars and I just fell in love with racing. I drove my first car when I was just 6 years old, not in a race or anything just at a practice where we had the track to ourselves and we were breaking in a new motor for our sprint car.
Beth_ITPB: Now that you have a few races under your belt in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, what do you think of the experience thus far?
Mike Koch: What do I think of my ARCA experience so far? I wish I had done this sooner! I am having a blast!
Beth_ITPB: What are your plans for the rest of the 2003 season and for 2004?
Mike Koch: I have no set plans right now, I bought a car from Wayne Peterson to start my own team, but the car was not going to be ready for Salem, and Mr. Peterson asked me to drive his car, so I did. We've attempted 3 races and made all 3 of them. Right now it is a race to race situation and we're just going with the flow and seeing where it takes us. I really want to than Mr. Peterson and Ed Simmons at Race Crew Jobs, and all the other folks that have helped me so far with this opportunity. As far as 2004 goes, we are looking for sponsorship for the rest of this year so we can run as many races as possible. We are hoping to have sponsorship in line to compete the whole 2004 season.
Make sure you check out Mike Koch at the next ARCA RE/MAX race. If the ARCA Series comes to a track near you, make plans to go. I promise you won't be dissapointed!
bethann@insidethepitbox.com
