Permatex/Follow A Dream Team Reaches Semifinals in Final Race of 2013

In its final race of the 2013 season, Jay Blake's Permatex/Follow A Dream team reached the final four at the NHRA Auto-Plus Nationals to solidify its hold on eighth place and virtually lock down a spot in the prestigious year-end Top 10. Driver Todd Veney qualified No. 6 with a 5.65 and took out D.J. Cox in the first round and Andy Bohl in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual winner Paul Noakes in the semifinals.

"It was a solid end to a good season," said Blake, who displayed the car and spoke to students at the Exton Pa, Universal Technical Institute before the event. "The team pulled together and worked harder than they have at any race all year to overcome problems and keep the car on the track."

A problem with the cylinder heads after the first run necessitated an engine swap and a major thrash between the first and second qualifying sessions. A wounded rear-main bearing forced another engine swap Saturday, but the team got the work done with literally minutes to spare before the last-shot qualifying session, where Veney ran almost as fast as he had in the previous session, a 5.68. A 5.70 in the opening round eliminated Cox and a consistent 5.71 took out Bohl in the quarterfinals in one of the biggest rounds of the year.

"Bohl and I were eighth and ninth in the standings, separated by one point, and it was the last race of the year for both of us," Veney said. "There are three more races left this year on the West Coast, so a few teams can still pass us, but that was a huge round that really helped our chances of staying in the Top 10."

Philadelphia's Channel 17 news featured Blake on its newscast in a segment that can be accessed online at http://phl17.com/2013/10/03/blind-drag-race-captain-follows-his-dream/#axzz2h3hrULMP.

The Carroll Center for the Blinds Carroll Society bestowed awards on Follow A Dream Founder & President, Jay Blake and four other blind professionally successful people. Please take a look at the video, which talks about the award and the lives of the awardees and how they've been successful.

Recent Motivational Presentation at Eglin Air Force Base- Eglin Air Force Base, FL

WELCOME TO FOLLOW A DREAM

About Follow A Dream
Established in 1999, Follow A Dream is a non-profit 501(C)3 organization. The organization’s message is uniquely delivered through NHRA drag racing as its medium. As racing’s only totally blind, race crew chief, Follow A Dream Founder, Jay Blake draws upon his personal experience of overcoming adversity and achieving his dream of auto racing, and shares his inspiration with others.

About Permatex
Permatex, Inc. is a leading manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of premium chemical products to the automotive maintenance and repair markets. Since 1909, Permatex has been an acknowledged leader in the development of innovative new products and services for the automotive aftermarket. For more information, visit http://www.permatex.com/