By Jason Johnson

Like father, like sons. At least that's what brothers Blake and Brock Gratton are shooting for with their Internet campaign, www.milliondollarraceboat.com.

The identical twins, who grew up watching their father Joey win national and world championships in offshore racing, are hoping to follow in their dad's footsteps. All they need is $1 million to start their own team. Only a cool million.

It won't happen overnight, and maybe not for a few years or ever, but the 25-year olds think they have a way to raise the money.

The premise is not new. Basically it's a Web-based advertising model—sell one million pixels of space on the site at $1 a piece. The brothers started the campaign in 2006, asking sponsors to pay for 10 x 10 blocks ($100) that link to the sponsor's Web site.

Brock said they need nearly $200,000 to buy a boat—they have their eyes on a 30-foot catamaran, most likely a Skater or Doug Wright, to compete in the OSS Cat Outboard class. They expect a season's worth of expenses to run upward of $200,000 as well. They know the 2007 season won't be possible, but they aren't ruling out 2008.

Sound impossible? It just might be, but the Florida State University graduates (economic degrees, of course) believe this is their chance to fulfill a lifelong dream.

"Realistically, the only way that Brock and I can start racing is if we raise enough money to purchase a race boat," said Blake, who works with his brother as a mortgage broker. "We've received good feedback from the racing world, but we need a lot more money if we're going to be able to do this."

The brothers have raised nearly $10,000 mainly through contacts in the Offshore Super Series. Their father races in the OSS Cat Lite class with teammate Steve Page in Page's Hooters Hotel & Casino boat. Joey, a former professional motocross racer, teamed up with Page for his first race more than 10 years ago.

"We always had fast pleasure boats, but once my dad started racing, we've been the biggest fans in the world," said Brock, who designed the Web site.

"They were just fuzzy-head kids back then," Joey said. "Everyone in racing has known them since they were little. They have a bunch of people pulling for them. "I'm not sure if they'll really come up with a million dollars," he added. "But it's a catchy idea to raise money. They do deserve the chance—they've been putting in their dues cleaning boats and working as crew."

And they can drive. They already have years of hands-on instruction while driving and testing with their father and other top racers.

Many OSS racers have shown support, including Joe Sgro who donated $2,000. Most teams even raced with www.milliondollarraceboat.com stickers on their boats last year. And why not? The brothers have supported their father and other racers for years. And for the past two seasons Brock has been part of the OSS scoring team and Blake has been on the second pace boat.

Currently they are working on a sponsorship proposal for larger corporate donors. Brock said they've learned a lot from their father, who has years of experience soliciting support in both offshore racing and motocross.

"And we're young and aggressive—I think that gives us a different look than most teams out there," Brock added.