Posted: Jan. 4, 2007, 9 a.m., EST
HARTFORD, CT – Permatex has announced that it will continue its corporate sponsorship of the Follow A Dream Race Team for the 2007 NHRA season. In 2007, Follow A Dream will compete in the NHRA Championship Top Alcohol Funny Car Series. Permatex has partnered with Jay Blake and his team since 2004.
Jay Blake, founder, owner and crew chief of Follow A Dream Racing, stated, “This relationship continues to be a great opportunity for both Permatex and Follow A Dream. We are extremely proud to be working with a company that is so highly respected in the industry, and we continue to rely on their outstanding products to keep our car competitive.”
What is remarkable about the Follow A Dream Racing Team is that, while it has been winning at the nationals level, its owner and crew chief, Jay Blake, is totally blind. Blake lost his eyesight in a tire explosion more than nine years ago, but he did not lose his positive attitude on life, nor his desire to pursue his dreams. Blake had always wanted to form his own race team, and in spite of losing his eyesight, he continued to focus on his goals. Through years of incredible determination and perseverance, he was able to realize his dream and founded the Follow A Dream Racing Team. The team has worked its way up the rankings and with David Ray driving, has become one of the top Funny Car teams in the world.
While he has worked incredibly hard to build his team, Jay Blake has also worked to encourage others to overcome adversity. For the past seven years, he has toured the country as a motivational speaker at hospitals, rehabs centers, corporations and vo-tech schools, encouraging people to believe that they can rise above adversity and achieve their life’s goals.
“Jay’s mission to inspire people to follow their dreams through determination, positive thinking and teamwork reflects the attitude we encourage at Permatex. Sponsoring Jay and Follow A Dream Racing not only gives us a chance to accomplish our marketing objectives but also gives us great pride in knowing that we are contributing to the community at large,” said Tony Battaglia, director of marketing at Permatex.
During 2007, the team currently plans to participate in 10 races, a combination of five divisional and five national events. The national events will include the AC Delco NHRA Gatornationals (Gainesville, FL), NHRA Supernationals (Englishtown, NJ), NHRA Nationals (Norwalk, OH), Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals (Mohnton, PA), and the NHRA Mac Tools US Nationals (Indianapolis, IN). Blake noted that it is likely that more races will be added to the schedule.
