ANN ARBOR, MI – Clevite Engine Parts has announced its new sponsorship of Follow A Dream’s Championship NHRA racing team. In partnering with the team for the 2007 NHRA racing season, Clevite will provide Follow A Dream with Clevite engine bearings and Perfect Circle piston rings for its Top Alcohol Funny Car. Clevite will also share technical information with the Follow A Dream racing team.
Follow A Dream’s Top Alcohol Funny Car is a modified 2000 Dodge Avenger. The car’s owner is Jay Blake, who also serves as the team’s crew chief. Follow A Dream’s driver is Dave Ray. The car’s 526 cid aluminum hemi engine produces 3000 horsepower. During competition, the Funny Car’s engine is subjected to extremely harsh operating conditions, including severe friction that occurs in those areas which come in contact with engine bearings and piston rings.
After every race, the Follow A Dream team rebuilds the engine for the next event. This year Clevite will be supplying the team with high performance Perfect Circle piston rings and high performance Clevite connecting rod and main bearings.
"Clevite’s advanced engineering and emphasis on quality materials assure the dependability of these high performance engine parts for Follow A Dream," says Bill McKnight, Director of Brand Development for Clevite.
In addition to supplying engine parts for the team’s Funny Car, Clevite will also lend its support for Follow A Dream’s community outreach program. The outreach program is designed to inspire people of all ages, especially children, to work hard toward overcoming life’s many challenges.
Jay Blake is the founder and president of Follow A Dream, Inc., a non-profit organization whose community outreach mission is to educate people from all walks of life on the importance of positive thinking and self determination in order to meet life’s challenges. As the only totally blind crew chief in motorsports, Blake knows what it takes to overcome life’s challenges and become a success on your own terms. His motivational speeches are well received by audiences throughout the country.
Follow A Dream reaches an estimated audience of 500,000 people annually through participation in the NHRA Northeast racing circuit, speaking engagements for adults, and on-site presentations for youth at community schools, vocational institutes and colleges.
Bill McKnight, director of brand development for Clevite, commented "Follow A Dream is an exceptional organization both on and off the track. Clevite is looking forward to helping Jay Blake and his Follow A Dream team achieve all of their auto racing and community outreach goals in 2007."
For more information about Follow A Dream, go to: http://www.followadream.net
For more information about Clevite Engine Parts, go to: http://www.engineparts.com.
