More than 200 people turned out August 28 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis to support Dillon Welch and his “Bowling with the Stars” fundraiser. The 17 year old race car driver hosts the celebrity-studded event and then shares the proceeds with a local charity.
“This year we split the proceeds with the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indianapolis,” the young racer said. “It’s an opportunity to use our racing program as a vehicle to help others, and that’s important to me.”
Forty bowling foursomes were joined by local celebrities such as Josh McRoberts of the Indiana Pacers, IndyCar Series driver Jay Howard, Hall of Fame bowler Mike Aulby, as well as many other local media personalities including Blue2, mascot of Butler University. Indianapolis television station FOX-59 covered the event and showed video clips and comments from Welch on their 10pm newscast.
“I really appreciate everyone coming out to support our event,” Welch said. “It’s not about being a good bowler but having fun; it’s just an opportunity to have fun for a good cause.”
Participants were also able to see Welch’s St. Vincent Sports Performance/Z-Line Designs/ClubSport race car up close, and even sit in it. Popular silent auction items included a private tour of the Indianapolis Colts headquarters, court-time on the Indiana Pacers home floor at Conseco Fieldhouse, and a party for 25 at Chipotle.
“There’s something for everyone,” Welch said. “The Indiana University cheerleaders were even there again this year too which is always cool.”
Racing is his passion and there’s nowhere Welch would rather be than in the seat of his race car, but in his mind, being a race car driver doesn’t stop when he gets out of the seat. What you do off-track is becoming more and more a part of a racer’s life, and that’s just fine with Dillon Welch.
