Charlie Welch has shown himself as one of the top names in the Youth ATV ranks. This year Charlie took the title in the 90 Mod class and will be moving up to the Schoolboy class in 2013. We caught up with Charlie to talk about his 2012 season, plans for the future and more.

GNCCRacing.com: How's it going today?
Charlie Welch: It’s going pretty good! Just got home from school and about to wash some quads!

Tell everyone about yourself.
Well, I’m 14 and a freshman at Shelbyville High School. Besides school and homework, I’m either riding or waiting to ride.

How did you get started in the racing world?
It was all an accident, actually. When I was four my dad got me a four wheeler to just ride around on, and since then I haven’t had anything to do that didn’t involve riding or racing. I did some fair races, then made my way up to some local motocross and had a friend tell us about GNCC in 2005. We went to our very first GNCC in 2005 at Steele Creek and I’ve been hooked since then!

So can you believe we've wrapped up another season?
No, it takes so long during the break but once the season starts it flies by! This was my eighth season and it seems like it went by the fastest but that’s what I say every year (laughs). Racing until November made it last a little bit longer but it still didn’t seem long enough.

What are your plans for 2013?
I’m planning on moving up to the Schoolboy Novice or the A/B, we just aren’t sure which one yet, but we'll be on a Honda 300.

What are your plans for the winter?
Well, I’m moving up on a Honda 300 in the morning race. I raced it at the Ironman and Loretta Lynn’s, and it’s definitely a different race. Its way different from the youth; the endurance needed for 2 hours, lappers, and how gnarly the course gets. So that’s why this winter I’m stepping up the training from the past few years.

When will you get back in the swing of racing?
In years past I would ride but not race until the GNCC opener in Florida, but this year we are planning to do some of IXCR's winter snowball series races.

How did your 2012 season go?
Pretty good! I ended up with the championship and also won the sixth round overall by 20 seconds from the second row. We had some troubles throughout the season but that’s just part of racing.

How did it feel to get the 90 Mod class title?
It felt great but I wanted to be on the overall podium more and even more so in the center but some problems held us back. At the Ironman I led the majority of the race but ended up breaking down right before the finish line area. Sitting there watching it all wash away is hard to take in when you’re so close all year.

How do you hope to do in 2013?
Even though it'll be my first year in morning race, I’m still always gunning for a championship but we'll just have to see how it goes.

What are your goals for the future in racing?
I want to go as far as I can go in this racing world. I want to get as dominate and fast as I can be but I know that it won’t be easy, so I’m willing to work for it.

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
Probably winning the overall at the Limestone 100 by 20 seconds!

You've also been racing a bike at some rounds, how's that been going?
It’s been getting better and better every race. A dirt bike is a lot different than a four wheeler and racing it the next day can be rough sometimes too.

Do you plan to do that more in the future?
Yeah, I plan to race a YZ85 in the 85 (12-15) class again next year as well.

Obviously both are great in their own way but which do you have more fun on?
I'd say that I like to race the four-wheeler more, and just ride and play around on a dirt bike better.

Alright, before we wrap this up, who would you like to thank?
I'd like to thank Ron Kersey from RC Motosports for all of his help with the bikes, DRR, GT Thunder, Rath Racing, Maxxis, S.I.C.C. Racing, Brian Wolf for his encouragement and my stepmom Jenny and my Dad for everything those two do!