Retired Drivers

They say racing is in your blood…

Sometimes that means you love to race, sometimes that means you love to watch racing, and sometimes that means you love everything about racing. For Callista Dillion, it’s all three, it’s all of the above. This girl just flat out LOVES racing.

Callista got her first quarter midget at the age of 4 and it was decked out in purple, Minnie Mouse, and all things princess. You could find Callista in February at the Rookie 101 class wearing her favorite bikini and high heels. You could find her at the old track in line at the concession stand in her princess ball gown and tiara. Or you could find her wheeling her pink Barbie Jeep around the track or on Bill Newgent’s scary hayride with all her friends on Fun Night. No matter where she was at the track, she was always dressed to the nines, in high heels, with a full face of makeup, and a big smile. Callista began racing at the age of 5.

But through the years, it was never really about the checkered flags. It was never about the amount of wins. It was never about the trophies.
For Callista, it was always about the friends, the laughs, the memories, the traveling, the family time, the love of the racetrack. All the things that are so much more important than carrying the checkered flag in a circle or bringing home a plastic trophy to collect dust. She has met racing friends from all over the country. Those are the memories that will forever be etched in her heart for years to come.

THQMA will always hold a special place in Callista’s heart. For now, it’s on to the next race track…

Greysen started racing at the age of 7, in 2014. Had it not been for him moving into a house that was a neighbor of the Wright family, he would have never known the world of quarter midget racing. When race season 2014 picked up, he made acquaintances with several other novice families, including the McVays, Baldwins, as well as the VanGilders. After many races and many wrecks that season, as well as attempts to intentionally flip the car, his novice season ended. Greysen was hooked.
After purchasing a car from an owner in Bloomington, and another from the Agee family, he would proceed to run the 2015 season in the classes of Jr Honda and Jr animal. He broke 5 axles that year.
The years began to go by faster. He made friends and lost others. He will forever remember his slow rollover in 2015 in Jr Animal and his massive wreck in 2016 in Lt 160.
In 2017, the new track was constructed, and it seemed like everyone had a fresh start at racing.
The next time you turned around, it was the 2022 season, and Greysen had been racing for 9 whole years. He had become too tall for his cars, and as he could only race another year, he decided it was time to move on.
He won't remember this roller- coaster of the past 9 years or his number of feature wins, or the national events he attended, but instead the valuable knowledge he gained, and the incredible people he met along the way.

I started my racing career at THQMA in 2016 as part of the last Novice Class at the old track. My favorite part of racing has been running the Regional and State Series Races and driving my car on the big race car tracks at the Terre Haute Action Track and the Brickyard. I have made a lot of friends that I love spending time with on and off the racetrack and enjoy cheering them on from the sidelines. A couple of my favorite highlights are winning the Light World Formula Championship in 2022 when “I was digging in like Dale Jr” to win my final race at THQMA, winning the B main at the Abe Lincoln Regional Race, playing cat and mouse with a National Champion at the MSLQMRA regional, and winning the THQMA State Series race. I would like to thank my parents, my Nonny and Papa Fraze, my Grandma and Papa Wiltfong, my Cell
Block C Posse, and all my friends and family for the support, cheers, and well wishes over the years. I can’t wait to move on to the next step in my racing career in a micro sprint.

“Iceman” Tyeler Taylor has been racing at THQMA since he was 4 years old. He was selected as a scholarship car and had the amazing novice directors of Dan Wallace and Ben Cottrell. If not for Shelby Vangilder crawling back in a car Iceman may never have learned to pass. With the knowledge of these great teachers he won a national race his first year in novice and it was the most amazing moment. We have had many great wins since then and quite a few regrets and failures as well. Thanks to many of our amazing race families our owner (Cindy Wright) and Crew Chief (Roger Wright) we have persevered through all. Retiring is not an easy decision because THQMA has been our life and our home for the last 10 years. We have met so many amazing people and gained so many friends who we truly call family. however the time has come to remove the training wheels and take the knowledge from all of the incredible racers we have had the privilege of watching and move on to a new chapter. We will carry THQMA forever in our hearts and never forgot the track who took a chance on a tiny, toe headed, wide eyed boy.

I started my racing career at THQMA in 2015, but I have been around racing as long as I can remember. My love of racing started at a young age by going to watch the big cars race and spending time at the neighbor’s garage as they worked on their Bomber. My parents love to tell the story of how as a toddler I used to “help” my neighbor “fix” Old Man’s race car by kicking his car and telling him “I fix it.”
I have made a lot of friends during the years…some who have become like family. I have enjoyed traveling to other tracks and trying out my skills against different drivers. The highlight of my racing career has been winning the State Series Championship in Heavy World Formula in 2021.
I would like to thank my parents, my Nonny and Papa Fraze, my Grandma and Papa Wiltfong, and all my friends and family for the support, cheers, and well wishes over the years. Even though my Quarter Midget Career is ending, I am not done racing. Next year I look forward to racing 600s.

Thanks Danny, for 10 years of racing in 7 cars, on 24 different tracks.
5 Terre Haute Championships, 5 Regional Championships, 6 National Wins,
thousands of miles and pictures, tens of thousands of dollars, and a lifetime of
memories later… we have enjoyed the ride!

They say that racing is in your blood.

That’s certainly true for the Dillion family. Racing runs deep through the veins of each and every one of the Dillions, and for generations before them..

Carson got his first quarter midget at the age of 2 and was wheeling it around the track in our backyard well before he could officially hit the dirt at THQMA. 4.5 years old couldn’t come fast enough. Carson practiced with all his racing buddies, but couldn’t officially race at THQMA until August of 2010. However, in July, before he turned 5, Carson raced his very first race at the Sullivan Fair on Mike Frey’s famous dirt track. First Race. First WIN. Carson slept with his trophy that night. And many nights after.

Carson went on to race with a stout class of rookies that battled through the Junior classes. There were a group of 5 boys that had a chance to win every single night- all whom have retired before Carson. Carson has spent the last 11 years of his life at THQMA… He’s one of the few to have the opportunity to race at the old track on 13th street, the temporary track at the fairgrounds, and now at the new track. He has won everything there is to win… individual races, track championships, regional championships, and a coveted USAC national championship in 2019.

But none of those wins will ever compare to the memories our family will keep. Carson has driven thousands of laps around different tracks with his competitors on the track, friends off the track. We’ve met families that we will be friends with for a lifetime. Those friends will stay with us beyond quarter midget racing, beyond THQMA. We thank you for the laughs, the cries, the wins, the losses, and most importantly, the friendships.

Now, onto the next adventure.

AFTER 10 YEARS OF RACING QUARTER MIDGETS AT THQMA, BLAYNE IS RETIRING. HE BEGAN RACING WHEN HE WAS 6 YEARS OLD. HE, LIKE SO MANY BEFORE & SINCE, WAS OFFERED A SCHOLARSHIP CAR. THIS INITIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR BLAYNE TO RACE AND BECOME PART OF THE THQMA FAMILY HAS CULTIVATED INTO A LIFESTYLE FOR BLAYNE & HIS FAMILY. HE IS ONE OF A FEW DRIVERS THAT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AT
THE OLD, TEMPORARY & NEW RACE TRACKS. SATURDAYS WILL FOREVER BE ALTERED WITHOUT THE EXPECTATION OF GOING TO THE TRACK. AFTER GETTING HIS OWN CAR, THEN A SECOND AND A THIRD BLAYNE WAS RACING MULTIPLE CLASSES. REGIONAL & NATIONAL RACES BEGAN TO FILL HIS CALENDAR. THE ANTICIPATED JOY OF RACE NIGHT WAS NOT JUST TO RACE BUT TO SEE BUDDIES, MAKE NEW FRIENDS, WATCH FELLOW RACERS,
ESPECIALLY THE OLDER MORE ACCOMPLISHED DRIVERS. HE ALWAYS HOPED TO BE AS GOOD AS SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG MEN & WOMEN HE LOOKED UP TO. BLAYNE, THROUGH THE YEARS, HAS WON MANY RACES BUT WHAT HE LEARNED FROM THE OLDER KIDS WAS THAT WINNING ISN’T ALL THAT IMPORTANT. THEY SHOWED HIM HOW TO RACE & INTERACT WITH WIDE-
EYED YOUNGER RACERS. BLAYNE LEARNED TO RACE HARD BUT FAIR, TO BE GRACIOUS IN WINNING AND TO BE JUST AS EXCITED FOR OTHERS WHEN THEY DO WELL. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING HE REALIZED THE OBJECTIVE EACH &
EVERY SATURDAY WAS TO HAVE FUN.

BRYCE ATTENDED AN ARRIVE AND DRIVE IN THE FALL OF 2012. MIKE FREY TALKED TRAVIS INTO GETTING BRYCE DOWN TO TAKE A FEW LAPS AROUND THE DIRT TRACK. TRAVIS WORKED THAT DAY
SO LAYLA AND JEN BROUGHT HIM DOWN. JESSE WILLIAMS AND TOM VICINO GOT HIM BUCKLED IN AND READY TO RACE. HE LOVED IT! BRYCE STARTED RACING IN THE SPRING OF 2013, AT THE AGE OF SIX. HE WAS A SCHOLARSHIP CAR RECIPIENT. HE DIDN'T START AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, IT WAS PROBABLY MAY OR JUNE. OUR FAMILY DECIDED HAVING A NEWBORN WASN'T EXCITING
ENOUGH, WE WANTED TO ADD MORE STUFF AND THINGS TO OUR LIVES! BRYCE HAS RACED A FULL SEASON, EVERY YEAR FOR 8 YEARS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE YEAR AT THE TEMPORARY TRACK. HE WAS ON THE TEMPORARY TRACK ONE TIME. BRYCE HAS RACED JR NOVICE, JUNIOR HONDA, JUNIOR ANIMAL, SENIOR HONDA, SENIOR ANIMAL, LT 160, AND LT WORLD FORMULA. BRYCE HAS ENJOYED SOME MEMORABLE RACE EXPERIENCES SUCH AS THE DIRT GRANDS IN 2015. BRYCE MADE IT UP TO THE A MAIN AND FINISHED 3RD IN HIS JUNIOR ANIMAL. HE WAS SO PUMPED! HE HAS ALSO ENJOYED RACING UP AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, TAKING A LAP AROUND THE 500 TRACK, AND COMPETING WITH GREAT RACERS FROM ACROSS THE US. BRYCE HAS GROWN SO MUCH AS A DRIVER DURING HIS QM YEARS. HE’S GONE FROM BOLTING OUT OF THE CAR AFTER A RACE TO
PLAY, TO A DRIVER WHO IS WORRIED ABOUT HOW THE TRACK IS TAKING ON RUBBER. HE’S LEARNED HOW TO WRENCH ON HIS CAR AND BE THE MECHANIC WHEN TRAVIS ISN’T AROUND (WE ALL KNOW JEN HAS NO IDEA WHAT SHE IS DOING WITH THAT CAR!). TRAV AND JEN WERE ALSO PLEASED WHEN
BRYCE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO HELP LIFT THE CARS (SINCE TRAVIS WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT AT ALL). BRYCE HAD LOTS OF GREAT LOCAL RACERS TO LOOK UP TO AND INTERACT
WITH AT THQMA. HE LEARNED TO LEAVE RACING ON THE TRACK AND HAVE FUN BEFORE AND AFTER EACH RACE. GAMES OF FOOTBALL, MATCHBOX CARS, AND JUST SITTING IN THE STANDS TO WATCH RACING FILLED HIS SATURDAYS. BRYCE HAS TRIED TO BE THAT OLDER RACER FOR THE ROOKIES AND JUNIOR KIDS TO
LOOK UP TO. SHOWING THEM HOW TO BE A GOOD SPORT, HELPING THEM TO WORK ON THEIR LINE, OR JUST HANGING OUT AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE HAVING FUN AT THE TRACK HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO BRYCE.

FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS I HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE THQMA RACING FAMILY AND HAVE LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF
IT. I HAVE RACED JR. NOVICE, JR. HONDA, SR. HONDA, JR. ANIMAL, SR. ANIMAL, MOD WORLD AND HEAVY WORLD FORMULA. I HAVE ATTENDED REGIONAL RACES AND NATIONAL RACES AND IN MY LAST YEAR OF RACING I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF DRIVING MY CAR AROUND THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 AND RACE THE BATTLE OF THE BRICKYARD ON DIRT. I HAVE MADE A LOT OF NEW FRIENDS AND A COMPLETELY NEW RACING FAMILY OVER THE YEARS. I HAD TWO GREAT NOVICE DIRECTORS MICK LANDES AND JOHN DAVIS. MY FIRST WIN WAS AT THE SPRINGFIELD INDOORS AND I REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. MICK HAD SO MUCH PATIENCE WITH ME MY NOVICE YEAR. I WOULD GO OUT AND DRIVE GOOD WHEN I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE TRACK BUT WHEN IT CAME TO RACE TIME, I WAS VERY TIMID AND CAUTIOUS OF THE OTHER DRIVERS. OVER THE YEARS MICK HAS GIVEN ME GREAT ADVICE AND MY DAD AND I HAVE ASKED HIM LOTS OF QUESTIONS. THE NEWGENT FAMILY HELPED US A LOT OVER THE YEARS WITH SET UPS AND SPONSORSHIPS. DAD AND I WENT TO A RACE IN IL AND STAYED WITH MIKE AND CADE FREY AND HAD THE BEST TIME. THAT IS WHERE I HAD COOKIE DOUGH FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT WAS A GREAT WEEKEND!! JOHN SHIPMAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE TO ME AND TOLD MY PARENTS OVER THE YEARS TO
HAVE LOTS OF PATIENCE…. THE THOMPSON FAMILY FOR ALWAYS HAVING A GREAT TIME AND PLAYING GAMES IN THE TRAILER. BLAYNE FOR LETTING US HANG OUT ON THE RV. CARSON FOR ALL THE LAUGHS AND OF COURSE THE FOOTBALL THROWING!! YOU SHOULD HAVE PLAYED FOOTBALL!!! THE MENEELY’S FOR ALL THE HELP, GUIDANCE AND HANGING OUT AT THE TRAILER. SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES AND WAY TOO MANY OF THEM TO SAY. JUST A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ALL THE FOOD, GAMES, HELP DURING THE RACES AND AFTERWARDS. THAT
LAST RACE WAS THE HARDEST ONE KNOWING IT WAS COMING TO AN END. THANK YOU TO GAVAN FOR ASKING TO GO BACK OUT AFTERWARDS TO HAVE ONE LAST PASSING GAME. I HAVE HAD MANY SPONSORS OVER THE YEARS AND IF IT WASN’T FOR THEM, WE WOULD NOT OF HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY.THANK YOU L&N WELDING NICK ALBRIGHT, LISS ALLARD & ROY ALLARD, CARLOS & LESLIE BUMGARDNER, LILLI DENNY & TRISTIN MENEELY, PATTERSON EXPEDITING, BRAZIL DOORS AND SPECIALTY
GRAPHICS. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY MAMAW & PAPAW SUMMITT FOR ALL THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MY
RACING AND FOR ALL THE TRAVELING THEY HAVE DONE WITH US. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL MY FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING AND HELPING OVER THE YEARS. MOM AND DAD FOR ALLOWING ME TO RACE AND FOR SUPPORTING ME THROUGH ALL 10 YEARS AND NEVER GIVING UP ON ME NO MATTER HOW BAD IT WAS. GAVAN FOR AGGRAVATING ME AND HELPING CLEAN THE TIRES.. LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

MY NAME IS NATHAN SPAIN AND I HAVE BEEN RACING 8 YRS. I RAN
BULLRIDER CHASSIS AND BAKER ENGINES. I HAVE WON CHAMPIONSHIPS AND HAVE MANY FEATURES WINS. SOME OF MY HIGHLIGHTS ARE INDY 500 DIRT NATIONAL RAN TWICE AND BOTH TIMES WAS ABLE TO DO A LAP ON THE INDY TRACK. WE HAVE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE MIDWEST AND EASTERN STATES
RACING, MAKING NEW FRIENDS AND MAKING MEMORIES. ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES THAT I RAN WAS COLUMBUS OHIO INDOOR WINTER NATIONAL, PAVEMENT IN A HOG SHOW BARN. THIS WAS THE FASTEST TRACK I HAVE RACED ON, WHAT A EXPERIENCE THAT WAS. THE PAST 8 YRS HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN, A LOT OF LEARNING. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY PAPA AND NANA FOR GIVING UP THEIR TIME TO MAKE SURE I WAS
HAPPY AND RACING, I LOVE YOU BOTH. NOW THANK YOU TO MY SPONSOR: BULLRIDER, BAKER ENGINES, SCOTTS CUSTOM COLORS, SCOTTS TOWING, PRINT PLUS, VP RACING FUELS, FEUQUAY SIGN CO., LEE'S KARTS, CARTER HOME IMPROVEMENTS, SECOND SHIFT MOTOTSPORTS, RIO GRAND FIREARMS AND PDF. THANK YOU TO EVER MEMBER OF THQMA THROUGH OUT MY 8 YRS, IT TOOK EVERYONE TO MAKE IT WORK. I AM RETIRING FROM QUATER MIDGET RACING BUT I AM NOT DONE RACING, MY NEXT STEP IS A CRATE LATE MODEL.

I STARTED RACING QUARTER MIDGETS IN 2016 AND RACED ROOKIE, HEAVY HONDA, HEAVY 160, UNRESTRICTED ANIMAL AND HEAVY WORLD FORMULA. I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK MY SPONSORS FOR THEIR HELP IN MAKING MY DREAMS
BECOME A REALITY, MY FAMILY FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT AND SACRIFICES MADE TO HELP ME ACHIEVE WHAT I HAVE, AND ALL OF MY FRIENDS FOR YOUR CHEERS AND WELL WISHES EACH
YEAR. THE HIGHLIGHT THUS FAR IN MY RACING CAREER HAS BEEN WINNING THE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP IN HEAVY HONDA IN 2018 AND TRAVELING TO THE REGIONAL RACES. I WILL CARRY THE MEMORIES OF QUARTER MIDGET RACING WITH ME FOREVER.
MY ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO ANY NEW RACER IS: TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN, EVEN IF IT'S NOT ALWAYS HANDED TO YOU. REMEMBER THE SMALL VICTORIES AS MUCH AS THE BIG
VICTORIES AND EVEN THOSE LOSSES HAVE LESSONS. BUT, MOST OF ALL, NEVER GIVE UP ON
YOUR DREAMS!