Jay Blake is the founder and president of Follow A Dream and the only totally blind crew chief in the worldwide sport of auto racing. He has more than 15 years of experience as a professional auto mechanic and more than 25 years in drag racing.

While working as the head mechanic of a transportation company in 1997, Blake was involved in an industrial accident that caused him to lose complete vision, smell, and taste. At the age of 31, he was faced with relearning how to live as a completely blind person.

Refusing to give up on life, Blake aggressively participated in rehabilitation. After being released from Massachusetts General Hospital, he enrolled in an intensive program at The Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts. With renewed self-determination, Blake began to follow his dream: owning a professional auto-racing team.

He soon learned that even without his sight, he was still able to do what he loved most - work on racing engines. Turning his dream into a reality, Blake combined his renewed participation in drag racing with his desire to spread his true-life success by inspiring others, both with and without disabilities, to accomplish their goals through the power of positive thinking and self-determination.

Today, Blake is responsible for the organization’s management, operations, and community outreach programs, as well as performing mechanical work on the race car. He leads his team of racing professionals in the NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car competition, where they have won races and championships on a regional and national level.

Motorsports, Personal Growth, Personal Story, Overcoming Adversity, Diversity & Inclusion, Disability, Motivational, College, Diversity Topics, Blind, Blindness, Inspirational, Health,