Bill Welch

Car Owner, Promoter, Announcer
CLASS OF 1998

Bill Welch became involved in racing serving as a crew member on the McNutt Brothers midget team, and later on some AAA sprint cars in the days before World War II. Bill served in the Army during the war, but when the conflict ended and he returned home, racing became his focus once again.

He first built Offenhausers, known for their checkerboard design and usually driven by the likes of Joe Ross. When midgets popularity started to wane after the war, he switched his interest to stock cars. Welch was a popular motor builder as well, joining forces with Dave Morton to for Morton-Welch Engineering. Many a successful driver of the time had got an engine from their firm.

Bill eventually transitioned from car owner to track official, spending several years as a scorer. He then became involved in the promotional end of racing in the 1960’s as an officer of the Atlantic Auto Racing Association with John Falconi, Walt Faulkner and Jim Costello. They promoted at Brookline, New Hampshire, Westboro, MA, and Thompson, CT.

During the 1970’s, he remained influential behind the scenes, including as a strategist for the original Spring Sizzler event. Welch soon assumed duties as a track announcer at Stafford Speedway and occasionally Westboro as well. His soft spoken style and thorough knowledge of the sport were his trademarks.

Bill Welch was known as “The Dean of Auto Racing Announcers” in the northeast and was widely respected for his understanding of the business side of auto racing. Hall of Famers Jackie Arute, Mike Joy, Lew Boyd, Pete Zanardi and Dick Berggren all credit “Welchie” with helping their career developments.

According to Zanardi, “Bill was an unpaid consultant to everybody. As a writer, I went to Welchie a hundred times to check a source or get a fact straight. The sport never had a greater gentleman than Bill Welch.” Welch passed away on February 6, 1985 after a long illness.