Friday, November 28, 2003 Welch Feeling Confident About Chances in Brian Davidson Memorial 150 Late Models set to fire up on Sunday By CLAUDE LEWIS Frank Welch may have close to 100 less horsepower and 1,000 less RPM than most of the big boys running in this Sunday afternoon's Brian Davidson Memorial 150 at Charlotte County Speedway, but the Cape Coral Limited Late Model driver is not exactly shaking in his hotshoes. In fact, after winning last Saturday's 50-lapper for Limited Lates at the Punta Gorda 3/8-mile paved oval, the 40-year-old out of Cape Coral is confident he can get his No. 96 Monte Carlo to the winner's circle following the prestigious race. "I think I'm gonna win," said Welch. "Don't get me wrong. It's a tough field and you have to have some luck, but my car is good enough to be there." Welch, who finished second in regular season Limited Late points this year at CCS, has been the first driver to win with one of the new GM crate motors designed to make top-dollar racing more affordable. Crate motors are factory sealed powerplants that have cut out the high-performance parts that price some folks out from competing. "I had $19,000 in my old motor," he said. "This crate motor costs $5,200." The crate motors were addressed during a drivers' meeting this past summer. Track owner/promoter LeRoy Davidson was a backer of the program and offered any driver winning with a crate motor a $500 bonus. Davidson has had to pay Welch $1,000 this fall. "LeRoy announced it, and a week later something got sucked through my carburetor. I decided I might as well go ahead and go with the crate motor and get ahead for next year. I feel I have a jump on some of the other guys." At first, Welch wasn't exactly sold. "When I first started it up, it sounded like a pure stock," he said. "I thought I could drive my car to the track." Welch said that the crate motor has actually made things easier for him as a driver. "Before you'd have to feather the pedal," he explained. "Now, I'm flat-footing it. I'm not spinning my tires coming out of the turns. The set-up is the same. I had to change the gear. I'm surprised the torque it has. I can concentrate more in the car in front of me." Welch believes it will not only cut cost, but make for better racing. "Everyone's on equal ground," he said. "There would be more cars and make for a stronger division. This is definitely something people should think about." Welch thanks his engine man, Al Vojir; his set-up man, Randy Fox; body man Bill Dunbar; tire lady Wendy Vojir; his wife Connie and children Justin and Courtney; and his two biggest fans, mom Martha and pop Fred. Welch believes Sunday's race will be entertaining for the fans. "Charlotte County teaches you how to drive," he said. "The second groove is starting to come in. I think it will be a great race." EDITORS NOTES:QUALIFYING RESULTS Wily veteran of the Late Model wars, Wayne Morris of Mulberry, Fl, set a fast time of 15.100 Saturday night in the chilled Charlotte County Speedway air. With the temperature lurking around the 40 degree mark, Morris wheeled his familiar number 56 out third in line, and though he failed to break the track record he set in March, 2003 at 14.854, he was at least close. In the field of 23 Late Models vying for the win on Sunday afternoon there will be a good bit of competition for Morris to deal with. Among the faster times in qualifying were Lakeland's Steve Dorer, who has proven he can win at Charlotte in 2003, and Bobby Beauchemin in the 29X. Also expect to see last year's Brian Davidson Memorial 150 winner Mike Hovis running up front along with local favorites Steve Arnold, Randy Fox, Frank Welch, Glenn Morris and Richie Anderson. Among the missing for this race will be Joe Sumanky, having been replaced byt the popular Mike Franklin, Jr, in the number 12. Joe Winchell, Sean Murphy and and Bent O'Neill also are ready for good runs. The Charlotte County Speedway gates open at noon and racing begins at 2 PM. -KARNAC Staff Report Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!