Finally!  After a two week break Dillon Welch returns to the race car on Thursday at Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Indiana.

"It seems like it's been forever," Dillon said this week.  "I can't wait to get back in the car."

While the USAC Regional Midget Series took a mid-summer break, Welch squeezed in a church-trip to New Orleans but is itching to return to the track.

"I've run several races in the Kenyon Midget at Plymouth but have never run there in the full Midget," said Welch who is second in the point standings.  "It's a nice track and I've got some family and friends coming up so I'm really looking forward to it."

Welch looks to continue the momentum from a strong debut season in the USAC Regional Midget Series that has produced two feature wins.

"My focus is on becoming

As much as Dillon Welch loves being in a race car, he's excited about his opportunity outside the car this week.  The sixteen year old racer is joining tens of thousands of other young Christians from around the country for the National Youth Gathering (NYG) in New Orleans.

"It's an opportunity I may never have again," Welch said before leaving for the airport.  "Racing is becoming more and more full-time and this is a chance for me to take a week and dedicate to my faith."

The week-long annual event will be held in downtown New Orleans and many of the festivities will take place at the Superdome.

"That area has been through a lot the last couple years.  Sometimes it's nice to stop and dedicate some time to thinking about why you have what you have," Welch said.  "That's what NYG

Dillon Welch enjoys listening to Indianapolis sports radio show "The Ride with JMV" on ESPN 1070 "The Fan".  Today, others will be listening to him.  

The 16 year old Carmel High School junior-to-be will appear on the popular radio show this afternoon sometime after 3:30pm.  

"I'm excited to be on with JMV," Welch said.  "It's great to get the media opportunity to promote our race program; plus I really like listening to that show so it's cool to be on there as a guest."

If you live in central Indiana, you can listen to the program on 1070-AM or you can listen live on the web.

Winning feels so good!  For Dillon Welch that feeling was even greater Wednesday night when he took the checkered flag in the USAC Regional Midget Series event at the Indianapolis Speedrome.

"There's no feeling like winning," Welch said with a smile.  "But after what happened Saturday in Michigan, this felt even better than normal."

Saturday at Berlin Raceway in Michigan, Welch had a huge lead only to have the sure victory disappear when his motor blew on the final lap.

"It was a huge setback," Welch said.  "We didn't get the win, took a big blow in the championship battle, and lost a great motor."

To bounce back Wednesday at the Speedrome was a big lift to Welch and his East Enterprises crew.

"Bob East had to scramble a little bit to make sure we had a car ready to race," Welch

The race is not over until the checkered flag waves.  The fact hit hard for Dillon Welch on Saturday night at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan.

Welch had taken the white flag signaling one lap to go and was on the verge of scoring his second win of the USAC Regional Midget Series season when the easy victory went up in a puff of smoke.  The huge lead, and the win, evaporated when the motor blew up on the final lap.

"The last couple laps I could tell something wasn't right," a dejected Welch said afterwards.  "But I thought we were going to make it to the end." 

The 16 year old Welch qualified second quick and started the Feature from the fifth spot.  He immediately carved his way through the field and had his Z-Line Designs/ClubSport Beast in second place by the end of the first lap on the

Racing can be a frustrating sport.  One race things go great.  The next race, you seemingly do nothing different and things go horrible.  Those contrasting experiences are likely the origin of the phrase, "That's racing."

That is how Dillon Welch summed up his evening at the Indianapolis Speedrome on Wednesday.  A string of strong runs came to a crashing halt on Wednesday.  The Z-Line Designs/ClubSport Beast was throttle-hopping throughout the night.  When your car is throttle-hopping, the engine is not performing consistently and the handling of the car is dramatically effected.  The issue cut short Welch's final practice, and continued to hamper the car's performance during the Heat race although he was able to hold off the pack for the victory.  

"We were fortunate to get the win in the

After a week off, Dillon Welch returns to the track Wednesday at the Indianapolis Speedrome.  

"I can't wait to get back on the track," Welch said.  "It's all I think about when I'm away from it."

Welch and his Z-Line Designs/ClubSport Beast will be getting plenty of action with five races scheduled in the next three weeks.

"With such little experience in this car, it's important for me to be in the seat as much as possible so I'm looking forward to a busier few weeks," Welch said.

Action at the Speedrome begins with practice at 6pm, Heat races at 7pm and Features slated for approximately 8pm.  

"The Speedrome is a great place to come watch racing," Welch said.  "There's a lot of great racing history there, and I always have great support with family and friends coming out to the track."

Dillon Welch isn't much for TV makeup and bright lights, but the 16 year old race car driver is looking forward to his upcoming appearance on "IndySportsNation Overtime".

Welch will be a guest on the "live" sports wrap-up show Sunday night on Fox 59 in Indianapolis.  The 30-minute show airs at 10:30pm ET.

"It's a great opportunity for me," Welch said.  "I really appreciate the sports guys at Fox 59 taking an interest, not just in my career but also the sacrifice and commitment it takes to succeed in our sport."

(Photo: Dillon with three-time Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford)

Welch, who just completed his sophomore year at Carmel High School, drives for East Enterprises and team owner Bob East in the USAC Regional Midget Series.

"I've raced since I was seven years old," Welch said.  "Racing has taken me all over the country, but I believe some of the best racing takes place at short tracks right here in Indiana.  It's the perfect place to be racing at my age."

Physical training, acquiring sponsorship, balancing school and racing...all provide challenges to the young racer.

"It's not easy," Welch said.  "But that's part of it.  The sacrifices and the hard work is what makes opportunities like this special."

In today's racing environment, a young driver developing a presence outside the race track is an integral compliment to the results he gets on the track.  Being able to interact with adults, sponsors, and media is a key component of being a successful racer. That's why the teenager recently participated in the CARA Fashion Show with many of the Indy 500 drivers, and made the rounds at the Sam Schmidt Paralysis fundraiser.

"Whether you're a racer or not, being a good communicator is going to benefit you in whatever you do in life," Welch said.  "And besides, who wouldn't want to hang out with some of racing's greats."

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"Thrillin' Dillon"?  

Dillon Welch doesn't consider himself to be flashy, the type of racer to carry a nickname, but after an exciting charge on the outside during Saturday night's USAC Regional Midget Series feature at Berlin Raceway, the 16 year old racer may have earned the moniker.

"I'm told (USAC track announcer) Rob Klepper was pretty excited when I was working the outside," Welch said.  "Rob is in to driver nicknames, and on the way home (team members) Dave Newman, Mike Hurst and I were joking about what kind of nickname I would have.  We had some laughs, but I'm good with just Dillon Welch. "

Welch had a blast in his first race at the Marne, Michigan track which is just under a half-mile.

"It was fun, and I think we had a good run," the USAC Miget rookie said.  "But I would've enjoyed

Sometimes you take what you get and look forward to the next race.  That was the sentiment of Dillon Welch after Wednesday night's USAC Regional Midget race at the Indianapolis Speedrome.

"It was a frustrating night," Welch said afterwards.  "But there are a lot of those in this sport.  I've learned to focus forward."

After starting eighth in the Feature race, Welch raced his way up to fourth and was challenging for the third spot when the two cars came upon lapped traffic.  Despite being shown the blue and yellow flag, the lapped car stayed in the racing groove.  Coming off turn four Welch touched wheels with the lapped car and the two spun.  The spin sent Welch to the rear of the field.  Again, he raced his way through the field, ending up with a fourth place finish.  At the