Dillon Welch received some post season medicine Saturday night (11/8) at the 3K Racing banquet in Indianapolis.

At the ceremony honoring the drivers from USAC's Kenyon Midgets, Ford Focus, and Regional Midgets, the 14 year old racer picked up two special honors.

Welch was named the Kenyon Midget Series "Most Improved Driver", and also was the recipient of the Kenyon Series "P.A.S.S" award, recognizing Positive Attitude Sensational Spirit.

"I worked very hard this year to improve," Welch said after the banquet. "And to recieve the PASS award, which was voted on by my fellow racers, is very special."

The special awards helped ease the dissatisfaction Welch felt at the end of the season.

"To go from tenth in points last year to fourth this year is a good jump," Welch said.  "But to be honest, on

Only one race remains. 

 "I love racing but I hate this part of the season," said Dillon Welch.  "The part where I know it's ending."

 USAC's Kenyon Midget finale is slated for Sunday afternoon at Anderson Speedway.  The Feature is scheduled for 1:30pm EST.  Practice (noon), qualifying (4pm) and heat races (7pm) will be run on Saturday. 

 Welch, who is fourth in championship points, is looking to build on the momentum of a strong run at the most recent Anderson race in which he posted the fastest qualifying time and finished third in the Feature.

 "We were really strong last time out," Welch said.  "I could put the car high or low, and it felt great."

"At the beginning of the season I challenged Dillon to focus each week on learning and getting better," said team owner

Dillon Welch wrapped up a busy month of racing with a strong showing Friday night at Anderson Speedway.  After winning the Heat race, Welch battled to a fourth place finish in the Feature. 

"Good results considering we weren't very good in practice," Welch said afterwards. "In practice I was missing my marks and it caused the car to be wicked, but I talked with (crew chief) Mel (Kenyon) and he got me straightened out."

The 30-lap Feature race was hotly contested from the start.  A pair of early yellows disrupted the flow, but in the final 24 laps the top six ran bumper to bumper, all exploring ways to get past the driver ahead of them.

When Welch's Kenyon Midget came off the track at the conclusion of the feature, the rear tire stagger was five inches (right rear tire was 5" bigger than

If you don't like Anderson Speedway, you're not going to be having much fun in the Kenyon Midget Series.  The last five races on the Kenyon schedule are all at the "world's fastest quarter-mile". 

"Anderson is a tough track," said Dillon Welch.  "But I enjoy it, even though we haven't seemed to have much go right for us there lately."  

Friday night Welch started on the pole in the Feature, but an awkward start left him third heading into turn one.

"USAC has been on us so much about getting even starts that I was worried more about the driver next to me instead of myself, " Welch said.  "I won't make that mistake again."

Eventually Welch ended up finishing sixth, and remained fourth in the season point standings.

"Very frustrating and very disappointing," Welch summized afterwards.

Fortunately

Dillon Welch has had a good season, but he is anxious for an opportunity to make it much better in the span of three days.

"We're fifth in points but I feel like we're a championship caliber team," Welch said. "We just haven't gotten on one of those streaks that I know we're capable of."

The 14 year old Welch will race his Kenyon Midget at Mt. Lawn Speedway near New Castle on Wednesday, and then circle the quarter-mile high-banked oval at Anderson Speedway on Friday night

Welch had a shot a winning at Mt. Lawn the last time the track hosted the series but while running second, he tangled with race leader Jeff Wimmenauer and had to settle for sixth.

"I really like Mt. Lawn and believe we're as good there as anyone," Welch said.

Welch also likes his chances in Friday night's show at

Dillon Welch will be part of an historic night of racing Wednesday (6/11) at Anderson Speedway.

Never before has a single night of USAC racing featured six different main events. The Kenyon Midgets, Ford Focus, and Regional Midgets will provide the action on the high-banked quarter-mile track.

"It will be two shows in one night," said promoter Don Kenyon. "The K-cars, Focus' and Regional Midgets will run hot laps, heat races, and features. And when it's over, they'll do it again."

Welch is looking forward to a full night behind the wheel.

"I'm sure it's going to be tiring," Dillon said. "But that's why I spend all the time I do working out. Hopefully it pays off on a night like this. Plus, if you're gonna get worn out, what better way to do it."

Wednesday's program begins with hot laps at

It didn't come the way he had envisioned, but Dillon Welch scored his first USAC Kenyon Midget feature win last night (5/28) at Illiana Speedway.

After finishing second in the Kenyon's first-ever feature at Illiana, Welch was awarded the victory when apparent winner Dalton Armstrong failed post-race technical inspection. Armstrong's car did not meet the mandatory weight requirement.

"I have mixed emotions," Welch said upon being congratulated for his initial victory. "I definitely pictured it coming differently than this."

Initially it looked like Welch would secure the victory on his own. After starting from the pole, Dillon beat Armstrong into turn one and led the first 18 laps of the 30 lap feature. But after pulling away for a several car length lead, Welch's car began to tighten up and

After a successful test on Sunday afternoon, Dillon Welch is ready to roll.

Because of wet weather and a scheduling quirk, the Kenyon midget driver hasn't run a race since April 6th. Rain caused postponement of the Kenyon Series' scheduled event last Wednesday at Anderson Speedway. The makeup date was originially slated for this Wednesday (5/21) but it has since been pushed back to June 11, extending the gap another day.

"It seems like forever since we've raced," Welch said Monday. "Seven weeks is a long time to be out of the car."

That is precisely why Sunday's test at Mt. Lawn Speedway (New Castle) was so beneficial.

Dillon Welch will have to wait a little longer before returning to action. The USAC Kenyon Midget race slated for Wednesday May 14 was rained out.

"I've waited six weeks since my last race, so I guess I can last another week," Dillon said while standing in the pits of a soggy Anderson Speedway. "It's definitely frustrating though."

Weather permitting, Welch will get plenty of time in the car next week. An open test is scheduled for Sunday (May 18) at Mt. Lawn Speedway in New Castle before returning for a race there on Thursday (May 21-22). The Anderson rainout of May 14 is being rescheduled as part of a double-header at Anderson Speedway on June

The season is just getting started but race fans are showing interest in Dillon Welch like never before. There were more visits to dillonwelch.com in April 2008 than any other month in the website's six year existence. May 2008 is also on a record pace.

"The website has a cool new look," Dillon Welch said. "It's going to be getting even better so hopefully people will keep checking it out."

Stay tuned.