One of the novel aspects of the coverage of the 37th annual Chili Bowl Nationals has been the liberal use of current participants during the event livestream. Among those who swapped the steering wheel for a microphone during the week were Clinton Boyles and Dillon Welch.
Boyles started expanding his resume a few years ago at the Tulsa Shootout. Welch is now a professional broadcaster who still has a racing habit. If you surveyed most fans, it is clear that they feel this trend is an asset to the production.
It stands to reason that those who are active in the game view the proceedings with a different set of eyes.
Drawing from their experience, these experts can quickly discern how a race car is handling and observe how the track is changing over time. More subtle is their deeper understanding of the tendencies of their peers in the heat of the action. The fact that racers can provide these kinds of insights is self-evident. Yet, one question looms.
Is it a benefit to a racer to spend time in the booth? Both Welch and Boyles think so.
More than anything, Welch feels his years as a traveling announcer have improved his performance as a racer.
“I think the time I spent on the road with USAC doing 80 races a year really helped me,” Dillon said. “I could look and see how there were certain things that just helped or hurt you. You understood the cause and effect of decisions you make. So just being up there and watching races and having a different perspective from the very top of the track has helped me.”
Boyles also agrees that his announcing gigs have been an asset.
“When I am announcing, I am watching everyone’s race craft,” he said. “In my mind, I try to plan ahead with them and think how they should handle situations. Then when I am racing myself I can think back to those same kind of situations.”
There is one aspect of this role that can be tricky. Now the driver/analyst is in position to critique the performance and behavior of their peers. In Welch’s professional position, he knows that the minute he is prepared to make any type of harsh judgement, a potential minefield looms ahead. In general, he feels it is easier to be straightforward in the short track world.
“It has never cost me in the past for calling it like I see it,” Dillon said. “But I do think I have a different perspective because I have been in some of those same positions. I’m not afraid anymore if something looks egregious to point it out. Now there are other times when things aren’t as clear and I wouldn’t want someone to say something about me in a similar situation. So while I might think something happened in a certain way sometimes I just don’t say it.”
When it comes to incidents on the track, as Welch suggests, there appears to be one universal truth.
“Sometimes it is impossible to know what really happened unless you were one of the two guys involved,” he said. “It is an interesting balance to play the middle ground, but not sugarcoat something. People deserve to know what is actually happening.”
He also understands what it means to do this job in a social media world.
“The way we consume all of this is so different now,” he said. “There are so many more people that see and hear what you do so you have to walk that line in every sense of the word. It is different for me in dirt track racing because I have done it and I have done it for a while now. It is also different because of the nature of the fan base. I have been much more comfortable in my own skin and being more truthful. I like it that the fans of this kind of racing appreciate the honesty.”
Boyles admits that there are times when his dual role puts him in a difficult spot.
However, he understands that just like when he is behind the wheel he has a job to do.
“If I call someone out, I hope they don’t have hard feelings,” he said. “Usually people are sharp enough to know that they might have screwed up. So you have to let it go and speak what you think is the truth. Right or wrong people are going to agree or disagree with you no matter what.”