[coverattach=1] Marstons Mills, MA – March 19, 2009 –Follow A Dream kicked-off its 2009 NHRA Drag Racing Series schedule this past weekend (March 13-15, 2009) at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville , Florida . The teams Permatex/Wynn’s/Texas Roadhouse Top Alcohol Funny Car made two qualifying passes on Friday and a third on Saturday qualifying 8th in the field going into elimination rounds. The Dream Team geared up for the first round Saturday where team driver Marty Nothstein did a great job of getting a hole shot on challenger Frank Schuster, beating him with a 5.72 over 5.71.
The team worked into Saturday night servicing and making changes to the racecar for second round eliminations scheduled for Sunday. Warming up the car on Sunday morning the team realized they had broken two intake springs. In order to make the next run all eight of the springs needed to be changed so tuner Tom Howell and team member Shea Graham got to work to get the springs changed out but unfortunately, ran out of time to get them replaced and make the call to the starting line. “We’re all disappointed that we couldn’t make the run,” said team owner Jay Blake. “On the other hand, we’re grateful to have found the problem before we took the car down the track where we would have experienced much more serious and costly problems.”
The team remained at the track through Monday for a testing session where they were able to experiment with some of the changes that were put in place for Sunday’s race. “We’re definitely going in the right direction and we’re happy with what we’ve learned going forward. We should be all set to get after it in Houston,” stated Blake.
Many friends, old and new, visited the team this past weekend. Barry Carrus and a group of students and faculty from Dunnellon High School in Dunnellon, FL stopped by to meet Jay and the team and get a first hand look at the racecar on Friday. “The kids and staff and I had an awesome time visiting,” stated Mr. Carrus.
Jay and transport driver Ed Parker displayed the racecar at the Texas Roadhouse in Lake City , FL on the Wednesday evening following the Gators. “Manager Steve Hale and his team took great care of us. As always, the hospitality and food at Texas Roadhouse was terrific,” said Jay Blake.
Jay Blake has scheduled a motivational presentation at The Walton Career Development Center in DeFuniak Springs, FL tomorrow, March 20 before departing the state for the O’Reilly Spring Nationals in Baytown, TX, March 27-29. Jay is also working on scheduling events prior to the start of the race in Texas. Please check the Follow A Dream website for updates on when/where Jay will be speaking.
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. 2009 will mark Marty’s forth 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, and made 3 division 1 final round appearances in 2008. Nothstein also made the fifth fastest pass in Top Alcohol Funny Car history at the NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown in June 2008.
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.
The team worked into Saturday night servicing and making changes to the racecar for second round eliminations scheduled for Sunday. Warming up the car on Sunday morning the team realized they had broken two intake springs. In order to make the next run all eight of the springs needed to be changed so tuner Tom Howell and team member Shea Graham got to work to get the springs changed out but unfortunately, ran out of time to get them replaced and make the call to the starting line. “We’re all disappointed that we couldn’t make the run,” said team owner Jay Blake. “On the other hand, we’re grateful to have found the problem before we took the car down the track where we would have experienced much more serious and costly problems.”
The team remained at the track through Monday for a testing session where they were able to experiment with some of the changes that were put in place for Sunday’s race. “We’re definitely going in the right direction and we’re happy with what we’ve learned going forward. We should be all set to get after it in Houston,” stated Blake.
Many friends, old and new, visited the team this past weekend. Barry Carrus and a group of students and faculty from Dunnellon High School in Dunnellon, FL stopped by to meet Jay and the team and get a first hand look at the racecar on Friday. “The kids and staff and I had an awesome time visiting,” stated Mr. Carrus.
Jay and transport driver Ed Parker displayed the racecar at the Texas Roadhouse in Lake City , FL on the Wednesday evening following the Gators. “Manager Steve Hale and his team took great care of us. As always, the hospitality and food at Texas Roadhouse was terrific,” said Jay Blake.
Jay Blake has scheduled a motivational presentation at The Walton Career Development Center in DeFuniak Springs, FL tomorrow, March 20 before departing the state for the O’Reilly Spring Nationals in Baytown, TX, March 27-29. Jay is also working on scheduling events prior to the start of the race in Texas. Please check the Follow A Dream website for updates on when/where Jay will be speaking.
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. 2009 will mark Marty’s forth 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, and made 3 division 1 final round appearances in 2008. Nothstein also made the fifth fastest pass in Top Alcohol Funny Car history at the NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown in June 2008.
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.
