There are four turns but the learning curve is the most wicked.
Dillon Welch is finding those lessons as he gains experience racing on the dirt. A lifelong pavement racer, the 17 year old is taking the dirt challenge against some of the best the sport has to offer.
Wednesday night at the opening stop of Indiana Midget Week, Welch challenged the oval at I-69 Speedway in Gas City, Indiana. Learning the nuances of dirt-track racing can take years, so the fact it was just his third time on the dirt made the test even tougher. This was a USAC National Midget event, and the field was stacked.
“Some of these guys have been racing these cars longer than I’ve been alive,” Dillon said with a chuckle. “They’re talented and experienced. It’s tough.”
Welch came up short of making the A-Main at Gas City, piloting his St. Vince Sports Performance/z-Line Designs/ClubSport/F&F Mechanical midget at Putnamville.
“I am having to manage my expectations because I’m not used to having the goal of just making the Feature,” Welch said. “I’m trying to learn and get better every night.”
It’s a work in progress, navigating those four turns and getting a handle on the learning curve.
