That said, I still had a lot of fun on the dirt Saturday night (5/12) even if I did finish runner-up.

I was back behind the wheel of the Bryan Clauson Inc. dirt midget in Montpelier, IN.  Being so early in the learning process of racing on the dirt, our goal is to just get me as many laps as possible.  Montpelier proved to be a good learning ground.

I started 4th and finished 2nd in my heat race.  The track was incredibly slick.  It was like driving on ice.  However, veteran driver Shane Hollingsworth was right in front of me, so I was able to watch him and felt like I learned quite a bit just chasing him around the track.

Thankfully the track crew re-worked the track before the A-main and it was very racy.  I jumped into 2nd immediately, again after starting 4th.  Hollingsworth got out to a big lead and I was on the chase just like in the Heat race.  As we approached the end of the race, Shane hit heavy lapped traffic and I closed up on him.  With a couple laps to go he was less than a car length in front of me, but there were also about 3 other lapped cars in our way.  We both tried to sweep around one of them on the outside coming to the white flag, and both got run off the track at the top of the corner.  I went off a little farther than he did, and that was the deciding factor.

Needless to say, I was happy to have had a solid run and to be competitive with someone as experienced as Hollingsworth.  It definitely felt like a step in the right direction.

Thanks again to Al and AJ for making me feel very comfortable at the track and helping every way they can to make me a better driver.  Also, thank you to Tim and Bryan Clauson for allowing me to drive their awesome car!

With that, we head back out onto the road for a double header this weekend in Illinois (5/18 & 5/19).  Hopefully I’ll have cell phone service this time, and I’ll try to update how the night is going via my Twitter account: @dillon_welch.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my website and read my blog entries.

Dillon

When I race on pavement, I have very high expectations. When on dirt, I must be more realistic and limit those expectations which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’ve run only a few dirt races in my life, but probably had as much fun running those as I did running any of the pavement races. The results are far from spectacular, but because of my lack of experience I put absolutely no pressure on myself. My goal every time was simply to learn and have fun. I know I am going to improve but I’ve got to be patient.

I really had fun at Jacksonville. I started sixth and finished sixth in my heat race, but the last three laps I began to change my entry to the corner and found some speed. By the end of the race I was one of the faster cars on the track. I started 10th in the semi, and passed three cars on the outside in the first corner. The track was very technical, with a thin cushin on the top of the track. The guys said I “rode the cush awesome”, and while I finished 6th or 7th, I was pleased with how I ran. The second place car all the way back to myself were all nose to tail, and lack of experience was maybe the only thing hindering me from moving up through the field.

I can physically feel myself learning while in the car. You drive the dirt by the seat of your pants… you have to move the car around and drive it differently until you find a fast way around. To me as a dirt rookie, feeling the car launch off the corner after I entered the corner differently is awesome. Having the opporutnity to work alongside Bryan and Tim Clauson is going to be a great help to speed up my learning curve, and I can’t wait until the season picks up and we’re racing twice every weekend.

Thanks for checking in, and keep visiting for more blogs and on-board videos!
-Dillon #39

Racing season is finally here. I’m very excited for what this year has in store. First things first. What are our plans for the 2012 season? I will be back with Nine Racing for a limited pavement midget schedule. If we can secure the sponsorship, our goal is to hit the big races- both races at Lucas Oil Raceway Park (IRP), Iowa, and Turkey Night if a new venue is found and that venue happens to be a pavement race. As of right now, those are the only pavement races we are planning to run.

However, a big change is in store for the upcoming year. I am pleased to announce that I will be competing in approximately 20-25 dirt midget races this year with Bryan Clauson Incorporated. Bryan Clauson may be the most talented driver in USAC at this time, and will be attempting to qualify for the Indy 500 this May. Bryan has won the last two National Midget championships driving for his own team, which bears his name. Obviously with the team’s track record as of late, I’m very excited to become a part of the BCi family and am very much looking forward to working with AJ Bray, Big Al Scroggins, Michael Hill, and Tim and Bryan Clauson. I’ll be piloting a Spike/ Esslinger numbered 39. My first dirt race is scheduled for the last weekend in April, a double-header POWRi show in Illinois.

I already have two pavement races under my belt this year. USAC trucked down to Altamahaw, NC to Ace Speedway for a Friday/ Saturday night show on the last weekend in March. Ace is a tricky little place. The straightaways are very long for a 4/10 mile track. The corners though are very tight. The midgets carried a ton of speed down the hill into those tight corners, and you really had to use the brakes hard to quit from running through the wall at the top of the turns.

Friday night was just okay. I qualified mid-pack, a dissapointing 13th, but finished a solid second in the heat race after starting 4th. The feature was basically a freight train. The narrow track did not favor much passing and while I moved up a few spots, I lost those later in the race and came home in 13th.

Saturday I was feeling much more confident. Qualifying was an improvement, at least position-wise. Rain the night before led to slower times, but I ended up 11th. A situation very similar to Friday’s heat race occured in Saturday’s as I again finished in second position after starting fourth. Saturday’s A-main was an adventure. I got off to a great start from 11th position and was running 7th when a front-running car blew a motor near halfway. It was pretty wild. Positions 3-7 were all nose to tail and when the motor blew, it dumped oil all over the track. We were all slipping and sliding, but still had the common courtesy to take one hand off the wheel and wave it frantically to let the guys who were still on the hammer behind us know to slow down. After a long red flag to clean up the oil, the car wasn’t the same. USAC mandates a line off of turn 4 where you can pass people on a restart, and I got passed before it. No yellow flew, but instead I basically got put on the freight train. I fell back to 11th, and soldiered home just outside the top 10.

A less-than-satisfying first weekend for sure, but I have no reason to complain. I began my 11th season behind the wheel of a race car at Ace. I feel incredibly blessed, and so many people deserve a thank you that I couldn’t possibly name them all.

I’m very excited about this year. Working with Nine Racing has and continues to be a blast, and I expect nothing different when we go dirt racing with BCi. I will have a busy summer, so be sure to keep checking back in on how everything is going.

Thanks for reading, and a schedule will be up soon!

-Dillon
Twitter: @dillon_welch
YouTube channel: DWelchRacing

More than 200 people toured the race shop, walked through the haulers and got up close with the race cars. Some even squeezed into the seat normally occupied by the 18 year old Welch. Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse catered the event.

A rare public chance for an inside look at 9-Racing

“It was a great opportunity for friends, family, sponsors, and prospective sponsors to get a closer look at our racing program,” Welch said. “Everyone was very impressed.”

The evening also featured a pair of special announcements, including a check presentation to the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indiana.

Dillon presents check to Leslie Bush of Alzheimer's Association

“I host a bowling event each summer here in Indianapolis,” the high school senior explained. “I then give those proceeds to a local charity and I was so happy to help the Alzheimer’s Association.”

Additionally, Welch announced a partnership with Sheltering Wings, a central-Indiana facility that provides a safe haven for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.

“Racing for Wings is an educational program we’ve designed emphasizing the signs and dangers of bullying and date violence,” Welch said. “It’s another opportunity for me to use my platform as a race car driver to make a positive impact in the community.”

Winning races and making a difference in the community are Welch’s two primary goals. He took some steps toward accomplishing those goals Wednesday night.

At 6pm, Dillon will make a check presentation to the local Alzheimers Association, the beneficiary of his Bowling With The Stars event from this past summer. Also, a special partnership with Sheltering Wings will be announced that will be another example of how Dillon uses his racing as a vehicle to do good within the community.

I really hope you can make it by. Here is address for race shop.

RSVP appreciated, but not necessary to attend
Email: info@dillonwelch.com

Nine Racing
451 Southpoint Circle
Suite 300
Brownsburg, IN 46112
www.nineracing.com

Dillon Welch charged from deep in the field for an impressive top-10 finish at the 71st Annual Turkey Night Grand Prix in Irwindale, California Thursday night.

After qualifying 20th and starting on the outside of Row 10, Welch began moving forward at the drop of the green flag and ultimately finished in eighth place. The surge was highlighted by a furious finish following a late caution. When the final restart occurred with seven laps remaining, the 18 year old racer was in 12th place; but driving with a not-to-be-denied aggression, he picked off four cars in the final laps.

“I had just lost 3 or 4 spots prior to the yellow when my car got loose and I almost hit the wall in turn four,” Welch said afterwards. “It really frustrated me because I knew we were better than where we were, and I just attacked those final laps with everything I had left in the car.”

Whether running the high line alongside the wall for momentum, or dropping to the low side for an inside pass, Welch was able to put his ClubSport/St.Vincent Sports Performance/Z-Line Designs #9 machine wherever needed.

“We struggled with a push the whole time we were here,” Welch said. “But we made a change in the right front just before the Feature and the car just came alive.”

The strong finish was a great way to end weeks of preparation, travel, and testing spearheaded by 9-Racing team owner Steve Lewis.

“Our preparation is a tribute to Steve and his commitment to the success of this team,” Welch said.  ”At the track Dave Steele, Glenn Martin, Kreig Poland, Mike Reid…everybody just kept working on the car and refused to give up. I’m glad I could give a drive worthy of all the work they put in.”

Primary sponsor for Dillon’s Turkey Night 9-car was Renaissance ClubSport, a contemporary boutique hotel and full-service sports club in Aliso Viejo, California.  On Tuesday, Dillon visited the hotel to greet guests and show them his race car.

“I can’t thank (ClubSport owner) Steve Gilmour enough for his support of my racing program, not just for Turkey Night but all season long,” Dillon said.  ”To have people I admire show their confidence in me is both humbling and motivating.”

-0-

71st Annual Turkey Night Grand Prix final results (98 laps):  1. Caleb Armstrong, 2. Darren Hagen, 3. Bryan Clauson, 4. Kyle Larson, 5. Kody Swanson, 6. Brad Kuhn, 7. Chris Windom, 8. Dillon Welch, 9. Evan Margeson, 10. Levi Roberts, 11. Kyle Hamilton, 12. Mario Clouser, 13. Bobby East, 14. Billy Wease, 15. Robby Josett, 16. Taylor Ferns, 17. David Prickett, 18. David Byrne, 19. Dakoda Armstrong, 20. David Goodwill, 21. Cory Kruseman, 22. Troy DeCaire, 23. Dalton Armstrong, 24. Tracy Hines, 25. Bobby Santos III, 26. Tanner Swanson, 27. Alex Bowman, 28. Jason Leffler, 29. Shannon McQueen, 30. Chad Nichols, 31. Scott Pierovich, 32. Nick Chivello, 33. Adam Kramer, 34. Ben Petter, 35. Travis Berryhill. NT

“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.