Story By: BOBBY CHALMERS / PETER BRITTEN RACING – WEEDSPORT, NY – Well, the only way Saturday at the Lebanon Valley Speedway could have been any better for Peter Britten is if he was standing in victory lane with a checkered flag in his hand at the end of the night. He did, however, accomplish the next best thing…a second-place finish in his maiden voyage as a Valley regular.
Britten had plans to run the High Bank Holdup at Fulton Speedway on Saturday with the Super DIRTcar Series. However Mother Nature said no way. The event was cancelled so that meant he and his team could make the trip to the ‘High Banks’ for their season opener. By the end of the night, it was almost a fairytale ending for the Australian.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am after our first night here,” Britten said. “Kenny Tremont had a good run and congratulations to him, but hopefully this is a sign of great things to come. I really think we have something to work with.”
Britten made quick work of several cars early on in the 30-lap feature event after starting eighth. He was in the top five almost instantly and began to work on the front-running machines as continued his march to the front.
“Anytime you start behind so many good cars, you have to make moves quickly if you want to have any chance of catching them,” he said. I had a fast Troyer Race Car with a great shock package from Integra and was able to take chances when I got them. Having a versatile car was key tonight and we were able to take advantage of the opportunities when they came about.”
Britten was able to get by LJ Lombardo on the final lap to get second, but did use his nerf bar a bit when making the pass.
“I went over to LJ after the race and apologized,” he said. “My car pushed in three and four when I was trying to make the pass and got into him. I got the spot but it’s not the way I wanted to get it and I feel bad for that.”
Unfortunately, Saturday was Peter’s only race of the weekend. Why you ask? The Season Opener at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway was rained out for the third time last Friday evening. They will try again this week as promoter Lyle DeVore and his team do their best to get the first race of the season in the books at the ‘Great Race Place.’
Then, on Saturday, the Valley gets back into action as Peter chases win number one of the season. His schedule doesn’t stop there. On Tuesday, the 21A will head to the Outlaw Speedway for the Ultimate Outlaw 100 Super DIRTcar Series event….a race he finished 11th in last season.