Follow A Dream Team Reaches the Semi's at Indy

Courtesy of Jay Blake

Marstons Mills, MA –September 11, 2012 - Following back-to-back victories in Cecil County, Md., and Bowling Green, Ky., Jay Blake's Permatex/Follow A Dream team reached the semifinals at the biggest race of the year, the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Driver Todd Veney qualified No. 6 in a field of 24 Top Alcohol Funny Cars and defeated East Coast rival Paul Gill and upstart John Hart before falling in the semifinals to eventual winner Chris Foster.

"I really want to thank the team for all the sacrifices they made to come back for the rain date," said Blake. "Everybody gave up a lot and rearranged their schedule to fill in for the guys who couldn't miss work, and it paid off. Indy's the biggest race there is, and we were still in it late on Sunday afternoon."

Veney was No. 1 in the field until the very end of the opening qualifying session with a 5.65, the team's best run since a low e.t. 5.60 at Richmond in April. After surviving a close call in the first round against Gill when both cars got within inches of the centerline and Gill eventually crossed it, Veney beat Hart in the quarterfinals, 5.77 to 5.95, and lost to Foster in the semi's, 5.60 to 5.69.

"Indy's my home track, and that's the best we've ever done there," Veney said. "Getting down to the final four cars at a race like that is something I'll remember forever, and it really helps us in the points." With the semifinal finish, the team is back in the top 10 in the national standings and remains number 1 in the East Region, 33 points ahead of many-time national and divisional champion Frank Manzo.

The event will be televised on ESPN2 this Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern.

This weekend, the Permatex/Follow A Dream team will compete at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Nationals in Charlotte, where in April Veney ran a career-best 5.52 at 262 mph. Qualifying sessions are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Friday and 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Eliminations begin Saturday afternoon at 5:00.

For those not in attendance, Blake will be featured on National Public Radio's "Only A Game" radio magazine this Saturday at 7 a.m. and again Saturday at 7 p.m. "Only A Game" is a nationally syndicated weekly sports magazine hosted by veteran NPR commentator Bill Littlefield. Check your local market, or listen to the live stream at www.wbur.org/listen/live

TAN