Blake Feese (2003-2011):
The 2004-2005 seasons were filled with development drivers for various teams. These mainly Cup Series teams (or affiliated teams in lower divisions) would employ the use of the popular “ABC Program” (ARCA-Busch-Cup) as a means of getting non-stock car drivers they had signed acclimated to the heavier stock cars, and various tracks. While there were many successes, there were also many that never achieved the potential that was hoped for them.
PRE-STOCK CAR CAREER:
The next addition to Hendrick Motorsports’ 2004-2005 Driver Development program was Blake Feese. Feese, who began racing quarter midgets at the age of 10, quickly begun moving up the stock car development ladder, which in turn led to Rick Hendrick discovering his talents and signing him to an “ABC” program beginning in 2004.
After winning his first two starts in Quarter Midgets, Feese moved up to mini-sprints two years later, where he won the mini-sprint championship in 1998 at Jacksonville Raceway. Following his ’98 championship, he moved into full Sprint Cars, where he earned rookie of the year honors.
The 2000-2001 seasons saw Feese race in the International Racing Association, winning 3 times. 2001 saw Feese spend time in sprint cars, and debuting in the World of Outlaws. His WoO debut in Bristol earned him an immediate 3rd place finish, followed by winning a WoO event in Knoxville. Feese also ran the 2002 All-Star sprint race at Eldora, earning yet another win on dirt.
2003 (X1R Pro Cup and ARCA):
Feese made his official stock car debut in 2003, running 1 race in the X1R Pro Cup Series, and 1 ARCA start for then Busch Series team FitzBradshaw Racing. Competing in race 25 on the schedule at Hickory, Feese wheeled his #23 Liberty Homes Chevrolet to a 15th place finish, but was 4 laps down.
Feese would also make his ARCA debut for FitzBradshaw Racing in race 22 at South Boston. Driving a #14 Chevrolet sponsored by U.S. Drywall & Concrete, Feese had a solid run, finishing 11th after qualifying 5th, albeit a lap down.
2004 (ARCA and NASCAR Busch Series):
ARCA
Feese’s 2003 stock car debuts would catch the eye of Cup Series veteran Jimmy Spencer, who would help Feese connect with Rick Hendrick. Following the meeting, Feese was signed to a development deal (similar to Boston Reid in the previous article in this series).
The 2004 season saw Feese run 4 ARCA races in a partial schedule for Hendrick Motorsports. In conjunction with Bobby Gerhart’s ARCA team, Feese would make his Hendrick debut at Nashville, wheeling his #5 BGR Research Chevrolet, immediately scoring a win. Feese returned at Kentucky and Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the #5 Ditech Chevrolet, finishing 8th and 7th respectively.
Feese would also wheel a #94 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet sponsored by CARQUEST at Talladega, winning yet again.
NASCAR Busch Series:
Feese’s quick ARCA success earned him the next few steps up the ladder as well in 2004, as he would run 7 Busch Series races for both NEMCO Motorsports and Haas CNC Racing. Both NEMCO and Haas CNC were contracted as Hendrick Development teams in 2004, thus giving Feese some immediate seat time.
Feese made his debut in Kentucky, driving the #87 Ditech.com Chevrolet for NEMCO Motorsports and Hendrick. After qualifying a respectable 16th in his debut, Feese would go on to finish 41st, going out on lap 9 of 200 due to an accident. Moving on from Kentucky, Feese made starts at IRP and Dover, earning finishes of 33rd and 34th.
Following his 3-race tenure in the NEMCO 87 car, Feese would finish his season driving the #00 Haas Automation Chevrolet for Haas CNC Racing, making 4 more starts. Returning the next race at Kansas in #00, Feese would finish 24th, after qualifying 7th. This would be followed by starts at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (27th), Memphis (40th), and Atlanta (25th)
2005 (ARCA, Busch Series, Truck Series):
ARCA
Now a full Hendrick Motorsports development driver, Feese made his return to ARCA in a solo start begin his “ABC” program for 2005. Driving a #94 Ditech.com Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Feese would come home 36th after going after 27 laps due to radiator issues.
BUSCH SERIES:
Joining fellow development driver Boston Reid officially in the #5 Lowe’s Chevrolet for Hendrick, Feese would make 6 starts in 2005. Feese continued to struggle in the Busch Series however, as he would finish no better than 23rd, which came in his 5 car debut at Atlanta. Following Atlanta, Feese’s results continued to slide downhill as he would finish his schedule with an average finish of 31.3.
Truck Series:
Feese would also make his Truck Series debut in 2005, making a start for Billy Ballew Motorsports in Kentucky, with Hendrick support. Driving Ballew’s #15 Chevrolet, which also brought on sponsor Ditech, Feese qualified 30th, but would have a strong lead-lap finish in 15th.
2005 would unfortunately see the end of Feese’s time within the Hendrick organization, as he was released before the start of the 2006 season.
2006 (Return to Sprint Cars)
Following his release, Feese returned home to race Sprint cars while searching for a path back to NASCAR’s top 3 series.
2007 (ARCA and Busch Series)
ARCA
Finding his way back into the ARCA Series with Sadler Brothers Racing for 2007, Feese would try to make the most of his new opportunity. While Feese did not make the field for his debut with the team in Nashville, he would go on to make 3 other starts in the #95 Scottish Rite Dodge, collecting 3 Top 10 finishes.
Feese also made the field in Chicago, where he would drive a second #8 Dodge for the Sadler Brothers, coming home 9th.
Busch Series:
Feese would also make a Busch Series attempt for the Sadler Brothers, as they also had a well established part-time team in the Busch Series. Feese was not successful however, as he would fail to qualify the #95 Dodge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
2008 (ARCA)
ARCA:
Feese would only attempt one ARCA race in 2008 at Daytona for Baker-Curb Racing. Using Norm Benning’s #8 owner points for the entry, Feese yet again failed to qualify in the #8 FPC1.com Ford
This was Feese’s only attempt in any of the four major national touring series in 2008, and subsequently the end to his ARCA career, as he has not made an attempt since.
2009 (Truck Series)
Truck Series
Finding his way back into the Truck Series in 2009, Feese reunited with Billy Ballew Motorsports in Nashville. Driving the #15 Phoenix Construction Toyota, Feese would run surprisingly strong during the event, finishing 12th.
2010
No Attempts.
2011 (Truck Series)
Truck Series:
Feese found himself back in the Truck Series yet again after his hiatus in 2010. Signing with Turner Motorsports to replace Brad Sweet after only 8 starts, Feese jumped into the #32 AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet making starts in Nashville, Bristol, Atlanta, Loudon, and then finishing the season in the #32 entry.
In his time for Turner Motorsports’ #32 team, Feese would score a Top 5 in Atlanta, as well as several other Top 20 finishes in his 10 starts for Turner. The pairing would end 2011 with an average finish of 23.2 and finish the season 24th in the final standings.
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Post-Motorsports Life (2012-present)
2011 would prove to be Blake Feese’s final run in any of the premier stock car divisions, as he has not made any attempts since Homestead 2011.
Fast-forward to current day, and Feese is listed as an insurance agent for Feese Insurance Agency since October 2015, as well as a consultant for AmberTech since May of 2012. AmberTech is a manufacturer of renewable energy semi-conductors.
