This week’s fan comes from the Northeast area once occupied by the Green Mountain Berets. It’s also the home state of only one driver who ever made the Daytona 500. (Hint: he still races)

Our Fan of the Week has his eye on a job in racing and is going about it the right way with the education part. He also has interesting take on what rule he would change if he ran NASCAR for a day.

Name: Jeffrey Koch, Jr..

 From: Originally from Long Island, NY; now live in Londonderry, VT

 Age: 22

Occupation: Almost completed my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Southern Vermont College in Bennington, Vermont. I am about to start an internship for Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

How long have you been following racing and how did you get started? I didn't grow up in a racing family. I was always attracted to racing shows and movies like Disney's Love Bug and Dukes of Hazzard. One day, when I was around six years old, I was flipping the channels and saw Dale Earnhardt in his No. 3 car dominating a road course. I was amazed by Dale's driving style. I didn't know who he was at the time, but I just knew at that moment I liked that black No. 3 car because he knew how to dominate his competition. Around 10 years old I was a Dale Earnhardt fan. I got to see one of Dale's cars at an auto dealership and bought a Championship 1993 Earnhardt poster that I still have hung on my wall to this day.

Who is your favorite driver and why: It was Dale Earnhardt without a doubt. Dale was in his own class when it came to racing ability. He had an aura about him that stuck out to me and that couldn't be ignored. I knew just by looking at him race that this guy was different than the rest of the pack.

Who is your favorite driver now and why: Because of being a fan of his father, it really means a lot to me to see his son, Dale Jr., continue the Earnhardt legacy. It’s really emotional to see Dale Jr. do well and win.

What was your driver’s best racing moment: That would be the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in 2001 when Dale Jr. won the race. That meant so much to me and many fans of Dale Sr. and Jr. It was a very special night that is one of those once-in-a-lifetime racing moments.

How many races do you attend a year: Believe it or not, I have never gotten to go to a race. I would like to go one day and take my brother, too.

Best race you ever saw on TV or in person: They both happened at Atlanta. In 2001 when Harvick edged out Jeff Gordon for the win and when Carl Edwards beat Jimmie Johnson by a hair. Carl never gave up that day even though he almost lost the car at the end.

What is your favorite track for racing: I always liked Richmond; great short track racing with two grooves for side-by-side action. You just can’t go wrong with Richmond.

If your favorite driver came to your town, where would you take him and what would you do: Well, I'd take Dale Jr. to Claremont, New Hampshire where there is a small track with late model and modified racing.

If you worked for DEI, what would you do: That's been my dream since my sophomore year of college! Since I almost earned my degree in business I'd like to work on the corporate side of stock car racing. Help bring sponsors to the company and take care of public relations, perhaps. I'm pretty well schooled in all kinds of corporate management.

 If you ran NASCAR for a day, what rule would you change, add or delete: I think they should bring back the bigger spoilers. Yes, it may make the cars harder to handle and the best of the best would essentially perform better. I've seen when the Cup drivers race in the Busch Series, the racing seems to be a bit more exciting. When the drivers have more control of their car and have more downforce; they attempt more exciting and bolder moves than I've seen in Nextel Cup.