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NOTEBOOK: Drivers in fast forward mode

DACONO, Colo. -- Since the  NASCAR K&N Pro Series race Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200 on May 23, the West Series drivers have had seven races in 12 weeks.

After tonight’s race at Colorado National Speedway, the West Series drivers get a bit of a break. They won’t race again until Sept. 12 at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.

But some of the drivers would rather go without a break. Blake Koch said he would rather have 12 races in a row. However, that wouldn’t leave much time to race on other divisions of NASCAR.

Koch has been able to squeeze in some Nationwide Series races in between his K&N Pro Series West schedule. He was in the Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway on July 31. He plans on racing in  the Nationwide Series again at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 20.

“I’m not the one who needs to take a break,” Koch said. “I’m not the one working on the cars. I like this two weekends in a row deal.”
The K&N Pro Series West raced at Montana Raceway Park last weekend. It was the first visit for the West Series to the quarter-mile track. Eric Holmes won the race, his third of the year.

After a busy stretch of racing, the K&N Pro Series West schedule is spread out for the last three races of the season. There are three races over nine weeks, one a month until the season finale at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 13.

David Mayhew, who is second in the West Series standings, said he would rather keep going and finish out the season without such a big break between races.

“It’s not a matter of getting the cars ready, they’re ready to go,” Mayhew said. “We had a good run last weekend. I’m looking forward to getting back to a road course and finishing without any problems.”

Blown engine for Thomas Martin: An oil pump belt broke on Thomas Martin’s car during the first practice and his team had to replace the engine.

Martin, who is driving the No. 5 car for Jack Sellers, did not make it out for the second practice session at Colorado National Speedway.

His team had to replace the engine in his car and he will have to start from the back of the field.

“I don’t know if it’s a good as the first,” Martin said. “I think we can pull out a top 10. I think we can leave with a positive top 10.”