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MIKE WELCH – ADDS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP AT RANSOMVILLE TO HIS IMPRESSIVE RESUME

Mike Welch of Stanley, NY recently won the 2024 Ransomville Speedway KiPo Chevrolet Street Stock championship in his first full season at the half-mile Niagara County clay oval. On his bucket list was a win at the Big R and although he campaigned there a hand full of times over the course of the past decade, that win had eluded him. Knowing more seat time was needed, Welch decided to run the full season in 2024 which proved to be a good choice as he picked up not only his first win but a second as well. Welch would trail in points on the final points night, overcoming an eight-point deficit from then points leader Brandon Sherwood, who also lent Mike a carburetor before the night’s activities.

Mike has been a competitive short track racer for 21 years, winning ten Land of Legends Raceway Park Street Stock championships. He’s also won a Street Stock title at Weedsport (NY) Speedway and a Pro Stock championship at Utica Rome (NY) Speedway along with the Parts Plus Street Stock Series. His total win count currently sits at 123. He is also a member of the Land of Legends Wall of Fame.

Away from the racetrack Mike is the District Manager at Auto Value Parts, which is also a sponsor on the Welch Race Team. Additional Sponsors for the 2024 campaign were Mountain Dew Code Red, TLC Trips, OTR-On the Rocks Grill, Buds Apple Pie, Rid-O-Vit, Smith Brothers Drywall, Eldredge & Sons Scrap, CRS, Smugglers, Tradition Ford, Stirling Lubricants, and Canandaigua Window Cleaners. For 2025 – Orange Crush will replace Mountain Dew Code Red.

Helping at the track are Maynard and Bud. Mike is the DIRTcar head tech inspector and director of the Empire Street Stocks Series. His biggest fans are his mother Jean and his girlfriend Tana. His sons Nate and Seth and daughter Alicia keep track of how he does at Ransomville Speedway weekly. Mike also raced weekly at the Land of Legends Raceway where he won a pair of races in 2024 – one of which happened to be when his grandson Ace was attending his first race. Mike is also grandpa to Lucas and Macey.

Mike is certainly one of the good guys in the pit area. always willing to lend a helping hand to fellow racers. While racing can be a high emotion sport, Mike sets a great example as maintaining a level head regardless of how his night went or anything that may happen on the racetrack.

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