Dale Earnhardt Jr. enjoys a conversation with his business partner in FilterTime and former NASCAR competitor Blake Koch where he learns more about Blake’s journey rising the ranks as a driver to his never-quit mentality starting a business. In modern motorsports, becoming a successful racecar driver takes drive, dedication, and perseverance. These qualities are also present in successful business owners, which is something Dale Jr. took note of when Blake first approached him about getting involved with FilterTime. Dale recognized Blake’s hustle when he was assisting Matt Kaulig with starting Kaulig Racing, for which he raced with during the 2016/17 NASCAR Xfinity seasons. And while Blake was let go for Ryan Truex before the 2018 season, his character as a hard worker who was not afraid to take on challenges was demonstrated.
Blake found his way to the big leagues of NASCAR with limited stock car experience. He explains that after racing motocross most of his life, he realized he wasn’t going to be able to become a professional and was ready to hang up the helmet. His stepfather called him about trying out a FASCAR Pro Truck in 2007, which got him into the world of short track racing. When sponsorship became difficult to secure for late model rides, Blake shifted his focus to the ARCA West Series (which was then the NASCAR Camping World West) thanks to a break from Richard Childress Racing and the Golden Gate Racing Team outfit. With a full season under his belt, Blake traveled out east and began competing in NASCAR Xfinity events for various teams before linking up with Matt Kaulig at TriStar Motorsports.
When Matt expressed he was determined to begin winning, Blake set out to find out how much money it would take to become a winning team. Once the answers became clear, Matt decided to start Kaulig Racing on his own with Blake in the driver’s seat. His 7th place points effort in 2016 would be his finest achievement in racing, but when the window closed suddenly he realized he needed something more stable for his growing family. After brainstorming business ideas, he came up with the concept of a subscription-based home air filter service, and soon FilterTime was born.
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