Blake’s Snow Shack, a Sanger snow cone business owned by a young man with Down syndrome, will be featured on a NASCAR stock car this weekend.
Blake’s Snow Shack, a Sanger snow cone business owned by a young man with Down syndrome, will be featured on a NASCAR stock car this weekend.
“I am honestly speechless,” Mary Ann Pyron, mother of Blake Pyron, told NBC DFW upon learning her son’s logo will be featured on the No. 95 car during Sunday’s Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400 at Pocono Raceway.
“Blake’s little ‘Snow Shack’ beside M&M’s, Coca-Cola and other major companies!” Pyron said.
Blake Pyron, 20, of Sanger, is the officially the youngest business owner in his Denton County community. And his family believes he may be the only business owner in all of Texas who has Down syndrome.
Blake’s Snow Shack opened to a massive crowd during Mother’s Day weekend, and Blake’s inspiring story was featured by media outlets around the world.
Among those who were inspired by the Pyron family’s story was Bob Leavine, of Tyler, who owns the Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing team, which owns the No. 95 car, driven by Ty Dillon.
“Tanner, our grandson, is autistic,” Leavine noted in a statement. “He is 21 and after graduating high school in 2015 he is now looking to that next step in his life – similar to Blake and his story.”
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In addition to the Blake’s Snow Shack logo - which will be featured prominently above each rear tire, on the roof and on the back of the car - the logo of Tyler’s Breckenridge Village will be emblazoned on the car’s hood.
Breckenridge Village is a caring residential community for adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, according to its website.
“The Leavine family – they touched our hearts,” said Mary Ann Pyron in a statement. “We have tried to show other people that you can believe in yourself and your child can do anything that they want to. There is no limit for my child. And I feel that the Leavine family reaching out and for them to share us with 'NASCAR Nation' is great. We feel beyond blessed!”
Blake and his father will attend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Pocono on Sunday, June 5, according to a news release. The No. 95 crew will wear purple Blake’s Snow Shack t-shirts during the race weekend – the same t-shirts that Blake wears for his business.
