Category Archives: Follow A Dream Racing

Follow A Dream Funny Car Does Not Disappoint at First Race of the Season

Follow A Dream Funny Car Does Not Disappoint at First Race of the Season
Follow A Dream – Maple Grove Raceway Regionals – Friday May 31, 2019

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (May 31, 2019) – The Follow A Dream Team was eager to return to the track at Maple Grove to kick off the 2019 season. Especially team owner and Crew Chief Jay Blake. Maple Grove holds a special place in Jay’s heart. This track is where he decided to follow his own dream and start the non profit organization and race team Follow A Dream. The first race of the season did not disappoint! Continue reading Follow A Dream Funny Car Does Not Disappoint at First Race of the Season

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC Team says Goodbye to Tom Howell

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC Team says Goodbye to Tom Howell
MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (September 11, 2018) – It was beautiful and memorable weekend for the Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car Team at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire.

Although the team did not get to close in on the Divisional title they were hoping for, they still had an unforgettable weekend at their home track. In a memorial qualifing run, Burkart carried the ashes of the team’s original tuner, Tom Howell to the finish line. Tommy passed away in early July after a long and courageous battle with ALS. Continue reading Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC Team says Goodbye to Tom Howell

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team falls short of second straight win by a split-second in divisional race at Cecil County, Maryland

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team falls short of second straight win by a split-second in divisional race at Cecil County, Maryland
MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (August 22, 2018) – In about the blink of an eye, the Permatex/Follow a Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team came up short of winning its second consecutive race in this past weekend’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional event at Cecil County (Maryland) Dragway.

In the final round of eliminations on Saturday, August 18, Follow A Dream driver Phil Burkart did everything he was supposed to do to win: he was faster (261.07 mph) than opponent Dan Pomponio (256.06 mph), was quicker (5.601 seconds to Pomponio’s 5.639) and reached the finish line first. Continue reading Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team falls short of second straight win by a split-second in divisional race at Cecil County, Maryland

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team WINS!!! Divisional Race at Atco, NJ!!!

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team WINS!!! Divisional Race at Atco, NJ!!!
MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (August 8, 2018)

The Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team enjoyed its best weekend of the season, capturing a win this past Saturday in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Northeast Division race at Atco Dragway in New Jersey.

“The hot rod’s back!” team owner Jay Blake exuberantly said. “The car did what we wanted to. When we made a change, it responded.”

“The team has worked well, there’s been drama and frustration, but everyone kept their heads down and did their job.” Continue reading Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team WINS!!! Divisional Race at Atco, NJ!!!

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team finishes runner-up in divisional race at Lebanon Valley, New York

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team finishes runner-up in divisional race at Lebanon Valley, New York

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (July 3, 2018)

The Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team went into a one-month break with momentum and confidence, finishing runner-up in this past weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Racing Drag Racing Series, Northeast Division, at Lebanon Valley Dragway in West Lebanon, New York.

Driver Phil Burkart was the No. 1 qualifier for the event with a strong run of 5.589 seconds at 263.45 mph.

Burkart made it past the first two rounds of eliminations before smoking the tires in the final round, falling to Dan Pomponio. Continue reading Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team finishes runner-up in divisional race at Lebanon Valley, New York

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC Team Reaches Quarterfinals of Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC Team Reaches Quarterfinals of Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (June 27, 2018)

If there’s one song the Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team doesn’t want to hear for a while, it’s “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.”

For it was rain – and lots of the wet stuff, indeed – that hampered the team from getting a good baseline or advancing past the quarterfinals of this past weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

Rain interrupted the weekend numerous times, including seven – count ‘em SEVEN times – on Saturday, leaving the Follow A Dream team with just one qualifying attempt before eliminations on Sunday. Continue reading Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC Team Reaches Quarterfinals of Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

CORVETTE RACING AT WATKINS GLEN: Back on Familiar Ground First event for Corvette Racing since 24 Hours of Le Mans

CORVETTE RACING AT WATKINS GLEN: Back on Familiar Ground
First event for Corvette Racing since 24 Hours of Le Mans

Program looking for second victory at Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen
Four Corvette Racing drivers tied in GTLM points after four rounds
Corvette C7.Rs to show patriotic livery ahead of Independence Day

DETROIT (June 27, 2018) – Following another appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Corvette Racing is back on American soil as it returns to competition in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this weekend at Watkins Glen International. The classic 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course in the Finger Lakes region of New York is a fitting stop for Corvette Racing, which is celebrating its 20th season of competition. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT WATKINS GLEN: Back on Familiar Ground First event for Corvette Racing since 24 Hours of Le Mans

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team reaches semifinals of JEGS All-Star Race and quarterfinals of JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals national event

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team reaches semifinals of JEGS All-Star Race and quarterfinals of JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals national event

Follow A Dream – Route 66 Nationals race wrap-up – Tuesday, June 5, 2018

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (June 5, 2018) – The Follow A Dream/Permatex Top Alcohol Funny Car team had a mixed weekend of success and adversity in this past weekend’s racing action at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois (outside Chicago).

On the success side, the Jay Blake-owned team reached the semifinals of the prestigious JEGS All-Star Race for Top Alcohol Funny Cars. Driver Phil Burkart qualified sixth in the eight-car field and defeated D.J. Cox Jr. in the first round before losing to Doug Gordon in the semifinal match on Saturday. Continue reading Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team reaches semifinals of JEGS All-Star Race and quarterfinals of JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals national event

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team reaches semifinals of Lucas Oil regional event, feels it has turned the corner

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team reaches semifinals of Lucas Oil regional event, feels it has turned the corner

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (May 31, 2018) – The Follow A Dream/Permatex Top Alcohol Funny Car team feels it has turned a corner and is headed in a positive direction after this past weekend’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional event at Maple Grove (Pa.) Raceway.

Driver Phil Burkart qualified the Chevrolet Camaro TA/FC sixth of the seven drivers entered in the field and reached the semifinals before being defeated by eventual event winner Sean Bellemeur.

Yet despite the loss, Follow A Dream owner Jay Blake believes many of the early season struggles the team has endured may finally be gone. Continue reading Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team reaches semifinals of Lucas Oil regional event, feels it has turned the corner

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team suffers mechanical malfunction that leads to disappointing early exit at NHRA Southern Nationals

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team suffers mechanical malfunction that leads to disappointing early exit at NHRA Southern Nationals
Follow A Dream – Atlanta Southern Nationals race wrap-up – Wednesday, May 9, 2018

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (May 9, 2018) – As the old saying goes, if it wasn’t for bad luck, the Follow A Dream/Permatex Top Alcohol Funny Car team would have no luck at all.

The Jay Blake-owned team came into this past weekend’s NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia, with high hopes after a season start that has been nothing short of a constant sense of frustration. Continue reading Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team suffers mechanical malfunction that leads to disappointing early exit at NHRA Southern Nationals

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team has a ‘whole lotta shakin’ going on at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team has a ‘whole lotta shakin’ going on at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte

Follow A Dream – Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals Race Wrapup – Tuesday, May 1, 2018

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (May 1, 2018) – To borrow a famous line from music legend Jerry Lee Lewis, the Follow A Dream/Permatex Chevrolet Camaro Top Alcohol Funny Car had “a whole lotta shakin’” going on during this past weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina.

While shakin’ may have been good for Lewis, it wasn’t so good for the Jay Blake-owned car, as tire shake – which has been a near-constant malady throughout the early part of the 2018 season – once again reared its ugly head and prevented the team from getting past the quarterfinals. Continue reading Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team has a ‘whole lotta shakin’ going on at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team reaches Semifinals of Lucas Oil Regional Race in Virginia Follow A Dream – Virginia Lucas Oil race wrap up –Thursday, April 26, 2018 MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (April 26, 2018) – Follow A Dream/Permatex Chevrolet Camaro Top Alcohol Funny Car team owner Jay Blake promised things would get better after the team’s slow start in the first two races of 2018. And indeed that’s what happened this past weekend in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional race at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Va. Blake, driver Phil Burkart and tuner Anthony Terenzio and the rest of the team helped get the car to a semi-final finish. Burkart lost in the next-to-last round to Mathew Gill, but there was no embarrassment, as Gill went on to win the overall race in the AA/Funny Car class. “We tested on Thursday, qualified third on Friday and eliminations were Saturday and we lost in the semifinals,” Blake said. “The results really sound better than we did.” “We struggled with (tire and body) shake all weekend. We’re pretty confident we’ve got it figured out and we’re looking forward to this weekend.” “It’s a common thing with Alcohol Funny Cars. We’re trying to find the right clutch setup.” Now the team prepares for this weekend’s NHRA NGK Spark Plug Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina. “I’m hoping for a good weekend,” Blake said. “It’s been a tough beginning of the year but the team’s been working hard, Anthony (Terenzio) has been working hard to fine-tune the car, Phil’s been doing a great job driving the car and the crew has been doing a great job.” “We’re just trying to fine-tune it and hopefully this weekend we’ll be able to round the corner and be able to make some real good runs that we’re happy with.” This weekend’s race will be the second of three events in a row for the Follow A Dream squad. After Concord, the team will move on to another NHRA national event next weekend: the NHRA Southern Nationals Powered by Mello Yello at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia. “We’re 10th in regional points and we’re No. 1 in the All-Star points for the All-Star race in Chicago in June (May 31-June 3),” Blake said. “We’re in the All-Star race, which is great, and we’re proud of that. “As for this weekend and next weekend, we’re hoping to win one of them, if not both of them.” Blake has been his typical busy self off-track as well, having speaking engagements this week in front of more than 800 attendees at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C., as well as the Davidson County Community College in Lexington, N.C. He expects to do more speaking engagements in the coming weeks as he further spreads his “Five Tools For Your Life’s Tool Box” motivational message to young and old.

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team reaches Semifinals of Lucas Oil Regional Race in Virginia
Follow A Dream – Virginia Lucas Oil race wrap up –Thursday, April 26, 2018

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (April 26, 2018) – Follow A Dream/Permatex Chevrolet Camaro Top Alcohol Funny Car team owner Jay Blake promised things would get better after the team’s slow start in the first two races of 2018.

And indeed that’s what happened this past weekend in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional race at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Va.

Blake, driver Phil Burkart and tuner Anthony Terenzio and the rest of the team helped get the car to a semi-final finish. Continue reading Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team reaches Semifinals of Lucas Oil Regional Race in Virginia Follow A Dream – Virginia Lucas Oil race wrap up –Thursday, April 26, 2018 MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (April 26, 2018) – Follow A Dream/Permatex Chevrolet Camaro Top Alcohol Funny Car team owner Jay Blake promised things would get better after the team’s slow start in the first two races of 2018. And indeed that’s what happened this past weekend in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional race at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Va. Blake, driver Phil Burkart and tuner Anthony Terenzio and the rest of the team helped get the car to a semi-final finish. Burkart lost in the next-to-last round to Mathew Gill, but there was no embarrassment, as Gill went on to win the overall race in the AA/Funny Car class. “We tested on Thursday, qualified third on Friday and eliminations were Saturday and we lost in the semifinals,” Blake said. “The results really sound better than we did.” “We struggled with (tire and body) shake all weekend. We’re pretty confident we’ve got it figured out and we’re looking forward to this weekend.” “It’s a common thing with Alcohol Funny Cars. We’re trying to find the right clutch setup.” Now the team prepares for this weekend’s NHRA NGK Spark Plug Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina. “I’m hoping for a good weekend,” Blake said. “It’s been a tough beginning of the year but the team’s been working hard, Anthony (Terenzio) has been working hard to fine-tune the car, Phil’s been doing a great job driving the car and the crew has been doing a great job.” “We’re just trying to fine-tune it and hopefully this weekend we’ll be able to round the corner and be able to make some real good runs that we’re happy with.” This weekend’s race will be the second of three events in a row for the Follow A Dream squad. After Concord, the team will move on to another NHRA national event next weekend: the NHRA Southern Nationals Powered by Mello Yello at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia. “We’re 10th in regional points and we’re No. 1 in the All-Star points for the All-Star race in Chicago in June (May 31-June 3),” Blake said. “We’re in the All-Star race, which is great, and we’re proud of that. “As for this weekend and next weekend, we’re hoping to win one of them, if not both of them.” Blake has been his typical busy self off-track as well, having speaking engagements this week in front of more than 800 attendees at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C., as well as the Davidson County Community College in Lexington, N.C. He expects to do more speaking engagements in the coming weeks as he further spreads his “Five Tools For Your Life’s Tool Box” motivational message to young and old.

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team struggles in season debut, but shows promise for Gatornationals

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team struggles in season debut, but shows promise for Gatornationals

Follow A Dream – Gainesville divisional race wrapup – Thursday, March 15, 2018

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (March 13, 2018) – It was not the season debut that the Follow A Dream/Permatex Top Alcohol Funny Car hoped for in this past weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Southeast Division event in Gainesville, Florida.

However, the team has high hopes for this weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national event, the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals, also at Gainesville Raceway. Continue reading Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team struggles in season debut, but shows promise for Gatornationals

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team 2017 season wrap/2018 season look-ahead

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team 2017 season wrap/2018 season look-ahead
MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (February 7, 2018) – The Follow A Dream/Permatex Top Alcohol Funny Car had an outstanding 2017 season.

The team won two races, had several more runner-up and semi-final finishes, won the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Funny Car East Regional championship and finished sixth in the national series’ standings.

It was the second full season of team owner/crew chief Jay Blake, driver Phil Burkart and tuner Anthony Terenzio being together, forming a strong nucleus that worked well off each other and with each other.

It was a true team effort, one that got stronger and more cohesive with each passing race of the 2017 campaign. If there was one unfortunate part, it’s that the season ended in late September just as the team was really hitting its stride. Continue reading Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team 2017 season wrap/2018 season look-ahead

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team ends up just a split-second away from victory at Maple Grove

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team ends up just a split-second away from victory at Maple Grove

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (September 26, 2017) – The Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team ended its season on a high note, finishing runner-up in this past weekend’s Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania. Continue reading Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team ends up just a split-second away from victory at Maple Grove

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team looks forward to return to Maple Grove Raceway, the track that changed team owner Jay Blake’s life

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team looks forward to return to Maple Grove Raceway, the track that changed team owner Jay Blake’s life

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (September 19, 2017) – The Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team had a rough outing at this past weekend’s NHRA Carolina Nationals in suburban Charlotte, N.C.

The Jay Blake-owned team reached the quarterfinals but bowed out when the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro spun the tires at the starting line and was never able to recover.

“The whole team did a great job, we just were fighting a little consistency,” Blake said. “But it’s coming around and we feel good about it.

“We need some real good runs and that last run (at Charlotte), while we’re not exactly positive of what the issue was, we live to fight another day.”

But there were good things that came out of the Charlotte race, among them a very uplifting speaking engagement for Blake at the headquarters of legendary NASCAR organization Hendrick Motorsports on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

Blake imparted a prophetic and inspirational message to a crowd of nearly 150 HMS employees as part of a weekly Bible study at the organization’s main campus, just two blocks from both zMAX Dragway and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“That was a great day,” Blake said. “(HMS chaplain) Donnie Floyd and Sandy took great care of us. We had a great visit and Bill McKnight from Clevite was with us.”

With Charlotte in the Follow A Dream team’s rearview mirror, now it’s on to one of the most meaningful places in Blake’s life, Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa., for this weekend’s Dodge NHRA Nationals.

It was 19 years ago while sitting in the grandstands at Maple Grove that Blake, who had lost his sight a year earlier in a tragic industrial accident, got the inspiration to decide and follow his own dream.

That was the seed that took root to become the hugely successful Follow A Dream race team and its inspirational motivational program.

“Maple Grove is just a special place,” Blake said. “There’s great people, it’s a great track, it always brings back great memories of deciding to start Follow A Dream, there’s just so many things wrapped into it.”

As a racer, Blake and his team now return to Maple Grove for the 18th straight year to once again challenge the quarter-mile for what he hopes will lead the team to break through for its first-ever win there.

“It’s always fun and always great to come back and race at Maple Grove,” Blake said. “We’ve got the car and the team to do it.”

To illustrate how important Maple Grove is to him both on and off the track, Blake was asked what his life would be like today if it wasn’t for that fateful day at Maple Grove where Follow A Dream began as an idea and soon germinated into an incredible story of success, overcoming adversity and being an inspiration to hundreds of thousands that have served as witness to its message.

“Nobody’s ever asked me that question,” Blake said. “Everybody always asks ‘What if you never had your accident?’ I have no idea what I’d be doing today if it wasn’t for my accident and starting Follow A Dream.

“I just tell people it all happened this way. You can’t change it. That was an amazing weekend that started so many amazing things that have happened over the years since then. Maple Grove is just awesome.”

And to see how Follow A Dream has grown and become such a success both on and off the track, Blake is humbled and honored that so many have not only supported and cheered over the years for his team, like primary sponsor Permatex as well as all of the team’s associate sponsors, but that FAD has made an impact on so many people’s lives.

“I never would have imagined 19 years ago that Follow A Dream would become as big as it has become,” Blake said. “We dreamed of winning one race. Now we dream of winning more races and championships.

“The biggest thing is the people that we’ve had an opportunity to inspire and change and really make a difference, that’s been just an amazing opportunity.

“As weird as this may sound, things happen the way they’re supposed to happen. I really believe that, just the way it’s all happened and has come together, I am blessed to do what I do. It’s just awesome.”

While the Follow A Dream car has never won at Maple Grove, Blake is hoping that changes this weekend once and for all.

“The ultimate goal is to win and that’s the hard part,” Blake said. “You want this one so bad. The reality is that it doesn’t matter how much you want it, you have to earn it.

“You just keep trying, never give up, never quit. What’s all the more surprising is that when you look at the (Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series East Region), the only track we’ve never won at is Maple Grove.

“That’s an incredible thing, an incredible accomplishment – and yet it’s baffling that it’s true. Some day, we’ll win Maple Grove because we’ll never stop trying! It will be the ultimate win for us.”

While Maple Grove is slated to be the final race of the season for the FAD team, a strong finish there could potentially lead to some additional NHRA races upcoming, Blake said.

“If we win this one, we may try and go west (for season-ending NHRA national events at places like Texas Motorplex, The Strip at Las Vegas and the season finale at Auto Club Raceway).

Entering this weekend, Follow A Dream driver Phil Burkart Jr. has clinched the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series’ East Region championship and is No. 6 in the LODRS National standings, just 17 points out of the top-five.

“If Maple Grove is our last race of the year, we’re going to go out and do what we do every race: do our best and go for the win,” Blake said. “We want to go out on as high a note as we can, and you can’t go out on a higher note than with a win.”

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team has rough outing at Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis

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. Continue reading Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team has rough outing at Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team continues strong recent run, reaches semifinals at Richmond

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team continues strong recent run, reaches semifinals at Richmond

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (August 29, 2017) – The Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team continued its recent strong run, reaching the semifinals of this past weekend’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Virginia Motorsports Park.

The race was rescheduled from a rained-out event in April.

In its three events prior to Virginia, the Follow A Dream team won races at New Jersey’s Atco Dragway and the team’s home track, New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire, and finished runner-up at Cecil County Raceway in Maryland.

Team owner Jay Blake was hoping for a third win at VMP, but their car suffered unexpected adversity in its first round of eliminations, prompting a change of transmissions.

“We put a complete new long-block in the car prior to Virginia so we’d have a very dependable running motor on the bench for Indianapolis (the upcoming U.S. Nationals this weekend) if we had any issues,” Blake said.

“We had one pass to test the track, set up the car, test the new motor we put in and that the fuel system would be what we hoped it would be.

“We ran a 5.66 second pass and it showed it had great potential. Plus, the track was in good shape. But in the first round of eliminations, we had a bye run. The car broke the rear end right as it left the starting line.

“The team thrashed and we serviced the whole car and swapped rear ends and set it up for the next run. We got put in the left lane, which was the less-desirable lane, and basically the car spun the tires.

“We hadn’t spun the tires for several races. We never had a real good run on the track at Richmond; there was a bunch of new stuff on it and it just wasn’t our day.”

With a new trans in place, the team went back on-track and advanced to the semifinals.

However, it could not go any further when the Permatex-sponsored 2016 Chevrolet Camaro spun its tires at the starting line in its semifinal run against eventual event winner Kris Hool.

“It wasn’t what we were planning on,” Blake said.

Now, the team travels for the biggest race every season on the National Hot Rod Association national event schedule: this weekend’s (Aug. 30-Sept. 4) Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in suburban Indianapolis.

“We were fortunate in a way to get the bugs out of the way at Richmond before we get to Indy,” Blake said. “It looks like it was a parts failure. The rear end only had about 15 passes on it. But now it’s on to Indy. It’s back to business as usual. You’ve just got to go and race it.”

Blake will have two qualifying rounds on Friday and Saturday, while there are two rounds of eliminations on Sunday and the semifinal and final round of eliminations on Monday.

Even with the semifinal loss at VMP, Follow A Dream driver Phil Burkart Jr. remains seventh (402 points) in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series’ AA/FC national standings, one point out of sixth and 47 points out of fifth.

A strong run at Indianapolis could help Burkart come close to clinching the Lucas Oil East Region championship. He heads to Indy with a commanding 160-point lead over the next closest driver.

The U.S. Nationals have not been the most hospitable host to the FAD team over the years. In more than 15 starts there, the team has only reached the semifinals once.

Blake hopes to break that string of bad luck of early first round and quarterfinal exits this weekend, especially in light of its two recent wins and runner-up finish in its three races prior to VMP.

“Indy’s never been a great race for us, but like everything else, you have to put yesterday in the mirror and go forward,” Blake said. “We’ll go to Indy with what we’ve learned, hopefully the weather will be good and the track conditions will also be good, and we’ll get after it.”

Prior to the team’s race at VMP, Blake visited and gave an inspiring speech to injured military troops at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

“That was a great visit there,” Blake said.

It was the fifth time Blake has spoken at the nation’s preeminent facility for treating soldiers injured in the line of duty.

The Follow A Dream team has been a staunch supporter of our nation’s military for more than a decade.

To illustrate that, the rear of the FAD Chevrolet Camaro carries dozens of signatures of military members who’ve visited with the team over the years.

The car also carries this saying on its rear window: “Free to dream, thanks to our troops.”

 

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team barely misses making it three wins in a row

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team barely misses making it three wins in a row

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (August 22, 2017) – The Permatex/ Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team continued its roll this past weekend, just barely missing a third straight victory.

The team finished runner-up in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series’ Northeast Division’s event at Cecil County Dragway in Maryland. Continue reading Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team barely misses making it three wins in a row

Permatex/ Follow A Dream TA/FC team earns second win of season in a row at Atco Dragway

Permatex/ Follow A Dream TA/FC team earns second win of season in a row at Atco Dragway

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (August 9, 2017) – The Permatex/ Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team is definitely on a roll, capturing its second straight win of the season this past weekend.

After winning two weeks ago at their New England Dragway home track in Epping, New Hampshire, the Jay Blake-owned Permatex/ Follow A Dream car made it two in a row this past weekend, capturing its second straight Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional event at Atco (New Jersey) Dragway.

“We have a ton to be proud of,” Blake said. “The one word that best describes what we’ve done in the last two races is ‘awesome.’ It really is truly awesome what we’ve accomplished.” Continue reading Permatex/ Follow A Dream TA/FC team earns second win of season in a row at Atco Dragway