Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team has rough outing at Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis
MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (September 5, 2017) – The Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team saw its recent run of success come to an end this past weekend at the NHRA Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in suburban Indianapolis.
The team had two wins — Atco (New Jersey) Dragway and New England Dragway — a runner-up finish at Cecil County (Maryland) Raceway and a semifinalist at Virginia Motorsports Park in its previous four races.
But success would not be in the cards at Lucas Oil Raceway over the weekend, as the team made an abrupt first-round exit.
“Indy never has been very kind to us,” Follow A Dream team owner Jay Blake said. “It could be a jinx, who the hell knows what it is. Indy just doesn’t like us.
“We’ve never really done well there. But we’re stubborn, we keep going back. If you keep hitting the wall long enough, sooner or later you’re going to knock it down.”
The team searched for power through several qualifying efforts, but could qualify no higher than 13th, suffering rear end issues for the second straight race.”We had another rear end issue and it was just a frustrating weekend,” Blake said.
Then, when it came time for the first round of eliminations on Sunday, driver Phil Burkart had a better reaction time and a faster speed (263.15 mph at 5.641 seconds), but opponent Doug Gordon passed him at the 60-foot mark and continued on to the win (249.76 mph at 5.541 seconds).
“The car never responded to any of the changes and adjustments we tried to make,” Blake said. “The car just wouldn’t respond all weekend.
“Coming into Indy, you’re running well, the car’s doing what you ask it to do, you go there to Indy and nothing cooperates.”
The team looks to rebound and get back on the winning track Sept. 15-17 at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, a suburb of Charlotte.”The guys are frustrated but Indy is done and it’s time to go to Charlotte,” Blake said. “You can’t keep being miserable over spilled milk.
“We went through the whole car, rebuilt the motor, and we’re going to Charlotte with our heads high, knowing we have the car, the team and the ability to win it.”
Blake’s team typically does well at Charlotte, having reached the final round once a few years ago.”It would be awesome to rebound from Indy and win at Charlotte,” Blake said. “It’s a beautiful place, a beautiful facility, it can be very fast and we have to treat it just like any other racetrack.”
Prior to the Charlotte race, Blake will speak on Sept. 13th at the legendary Hendrick Motorsports organization. It will be the first time Blake has spoken to the well-known NASCAR organization.”We’re very excited to be speaking in front of the Hendrick Motorsports folks for the first time,” Blake said.
Blake will then fly on Friday, Sept. 15th , to Montgomery, Alabama for a speech to speak to the American Council for the Blind.”The team worked incredibly hard, never gave up and it just was another Indy,” Blake said, putting a postscript on Indianapolis. “We just go on to the next one.
“It’s like life, you have a bad day, you’ve got to put it behind you and keep moving. And that’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to keep moving.”