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Reading, PA – For the second straight NHRA Northeast Division 1 Top Alcohol Funny Car final, Marty Nothstein squared-off with defending champ Frank Manzo.
Manzo beat Nothstein and his Follow A Dream/Permatex/Wynn’s/Texas Roadhouse 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS by less than a tenth of a second in the Saturday night finale. Manzo ran a 5.639 to Nothstein’s 5.735. It was the second straight race that the two met in the finals, and Manzo’s 46th consecutive round win.
“We’re really making some great progress,” said Jay Blake, who is Follow A Dream’s team owner and chief mechanic, and the only totally blind crew chief in motor sports. “We improved all weekend long and gave Manzo a good run in the final. I’m proud of how far the team has come in just three races.”
Blake added, “In order to be the best, you need to face the best, and Frank’s the best. We’re ready for the challenge, and look forward to our next battle with him.”
“I’m happy that we got back to the final,” said Nothstein, the 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist in track cycling. “Manzo is the guy you want to face, because he makes you better each time you square-off with him. We’ve learned a lot in the last two races, and look to use what we’ve learned to make us better.”
Follow A Dream advanced to the final with Nothstein running a 5.744 in the opening round of eliminations. Nothstein was to have faced Eric Lourie, but Lourie didn’t make it to the line. In the semifinals, Nothstein beat Mickey Ferro, who began the weekend as the Division 1 points leader. Nothstein ran a 5.681 to Ferro’s 7.692.
Maple Grove Raceway holds special meaning to Blake, who during a 1998 visit to the track, decided to follow his dream and create a drag Top Alcohol Funny Car racing team. This past Thursday marked the 11th anniversary of Blake’s industrial accident that left him totally blind and without taste and smell.
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. For more information go to followadream.org - Follow A Dream Drag Racing and Self Determination.
About Marty Nothstein
Marty ‘The Blade’ Nothstein is one of the most recognized cyclists in the world having won an Olympic Gold Medal in the 2000 Games in Sydney and Silver in Atlanta in 1996. Nothstein is America’s most decorated track cyclist with 35 U.S. National titles, three World Championships, four Pan-American Games Gold Medals, plus he’s a World and Olympic record holder. Since retiring from professional cycling in 2006, Marty is focusing his need for speed in the world of drag racing. 2008 will mark Marty’s third season in a Top Alcohol Funny Car. Nothstein will drive for Jay Blake, the Founder and Crew Chief of “The Follow A Dream Team”. Blake is the only totally blind crew chief in the world of motorsports. After a successful rookie season in 2006 in his Top Alcohol Funny Car, Nothstein found the winner’s circle twice during the 2007 NHRA Drag Racing Series season.
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.
About Wynn’s
Wynn’s traces its history to 1939 when the original Wynn’s Friction Proofing Oil Treatment® formula was first developed and introduced to the automotive market. In the 65 years following the introduction of that single product, Wynn’s has grown to become a leading worldwide manufacturer and marketer of innovative, groundbreaking automotive specialty chemicals and service equipment, as well as Complete Automotive Maintenance Programs.
About Texas Roadhouse
Based in Louisville, Ky., Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993. In just 15 years, the company has grown to more than 290 locations in 44 states. In 2006, readers of a national magazine voted Texas Roadhouse as the top concept in the Pub/Grill category, and Forbes magazine ranked the company as one of the 200 Best Small Companies.
FOLLOW A DREAM’S MARTY NOTHSTEIN REACHES FINALS AT MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY
Marty Nothstein Finishes Second to Frank Manzo for Second Straight Race
Reading, PA – For the second straight NHRA Northeast Division 1 Top Alcohol Funny Car final, Marty Nothstein squared-off with defending champ Frank Manzo.
Manzo beat Nothstein and his Follow A Dream/Permatex/Wynn’s/Texas Roadhouse 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS by less than a tenth of a second in the Saturday night finale. Manzo ran a 5.639 to Nothstein’s 5.735. It was the second straight race that the two met in the finals, and Manzo’s 46th consecutive round win.
“We’re really making some great progress,” said Jay Blake, who is Follow A Dream’s team owner and chief mechanic, and the only totally blind crew chief in motor sports. “We improved all weekend long and gave Manzo a good run in the final. I’m proud of how far the team has come in just three races.”
Blake added, “In order to be the best, you need to face the best, and Frank’s the best. We’re ready for the challenge, and look forward to our next battle with him.”
“I’m happy that we got back to the final,” said Nothstein, the 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist in track cycling. “Manzo is the guy you want to face, because he makes you better each time you square-off with him. We’ve learned a lot in the last two races, and look to use what we’ve learned to make us better.”
Follow A Dream advanced to the final with Nothstein running a 5.744 in the opening round of eliminations. Nothstein was to have faced Eric Lourie, but Lourie didn’t make it to the line. In the semifinals, Nothstein beat Mickey Ferro, who began the weekend as the Division 1 points leader. Nothstein ran a 5.681 to Ferro’s 7.692.
Maple Grove Raceway holds special meaning to Blake, who during a 1998 visit to the track, decided to follow his dream and create a drag Top Alcohol Funny Car racing team. This past Thursday marked the 11th anniversary of Blake’s industrial accident that left him totally blind and without taste and smell.
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. For more information go to followadream.org - Follow A Dream Drag Racing and Self Determination.
About Marty Nothstein
Marty ‘The Blade’ Nothstein is one of the most recognized cyclists in the world having won an Olympic Gold Medal in the 2000 Games in Sydney and Silver in Atlanta in 1996. Nothstein is America’s most decorated track cyclist with 35 U.S. National titles, three World Championships, four Pan-American Games Gold Medals, plus he’s a World and Olympic record holder. Since retiring from professional cycling in 2006, Marty is focusing his need for speed in the world of drag racing. 2008 will mark Marty’s third season in a Top Alcohol Funny Car. Nothstein will drive for Jay Blake, the Founder and Crew Chief of “The Follow A Dream Team”. Blake is the only totally blind crew chief in the world of motorsports. After a successful rookie season in 2006 in his Top Alcohol Funny Car, Nothstein found the winner’s circle twice during the 2007 NHRA Drag Racing Series season.
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.
About Wynn’s
Wynn’s traces its history to 1939 when the original Wynn’s Friction Proofing Oil Treatment® formula was first developed and introduced to the automotive market. In the 65 years following the introduction of that single product, Wynn’s has grown to become a leading worldwide manufacturer and marketer of innovative, groundbreaking automotive specialty chemicals and service equipment, as well as Complete Automotive Maintenance Programs.
About Texas Roadhouse
Based in Louisville, Ky., Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993. In just 15 years, the company has grown to more than 290 locations in 44 states. In 2006, readers of a national magazine voted Texas Roadhouse as the top concept in the Pub/Grill category, and Forbes magazine ranked the company as one of the 200 Best Small Companies.
