Racing

Follow A Dream Racing began in 1999 with Jay Blake’s dream of competing at the highest level of drag racing. Starting with a Super Comp dragster and quickly moving into Top Alcohol Funny Car in 2003, the team became a mainstay in the sport. Along the way, they earned East Region Championships in 2012 with Todd Veney and 2017 with Phil Burkart Jr., multiple event wins, and consistent Top-10 finishes nationally.

For more than 15 years, Follow A Dream proudly partnered with Permatex and became one of the most inspiring teams in racing. Led by Jay Blake—the only totally blind crew chief in motorsports—the team has proven that perseverance and passion can overcome any challenge. Today, Follow A Dream is writing its most exciting chapter yet with the move into Nitro Funny Car, racing the fastest cars in the world while continuing to inspire fans everywhere to follow their own dreams.

Nitro Funny Car

The culmination of a lifelong dream

Follow A Dream’s newest race car is a Nitro Funny Car, one of the most powerful and exciting vehicles in all of motorsports. Powered by a supercharged nitromethane-burning engine producing more than 11,000 horsepower, the car can accelerate from a standstill to over 300 mph in just seconds. Driven by veteran racer Phil Burkart Jr. and tuned by Robert Schwab, the Nitro Funny Car serves as both a competitive race vehicle and a powerful educational tool, helping Follow A Dream inspire audiences with lessons about positive attitude, education, passion, determination, and teamwork.

Super Comp Dragster

FROM OUR ROOTS TO THE PRESENT

Follow A Dream racing began its journey with a dragster driven by the talented Jim Blake, laying the foundation for a legacy built on passion, perseverance, and the thrill of the track. Today, that legacy continues with our Suer Comp Dragster, proudly raced at New England Dragway by Jamie Blake, Jim’s son and Jay’s nephew. From our roots to the present, our dragster embodies the same spirit of determination and the joy of chasing dreams at full throttle.

RETIRED

Top Alcohol Funny Car

A Champion turned inspiration

Our retired, championship-winning Top Alcohol Funny car now serves as a one-of-a-kind show car, inspiring audiences wherever it goes. As part of our speaking engagements, fans and students don’t just see the car – they get to experience it. We invite people too get hands-on, explore the cockpit, and even sit in the drivers seat for photos, making the dream of racing feel within reach – while reminding them that their own dreams are within reach, too.

    Our Drivers

    Our drivers come from across the country, each bringing a lifelong passion for motorsports and a wealth of racing experience to the Follow A Dream team. Whether past or present—racing in Super Comp or stepping up to Nitro—they all share the same dream and passion for motorsports, along with a dedication to excellence that makes them winners.
    Phil Burkart
    Driver
    Jamie Blake
    Super Comp Driver

    Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

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