Brisbane, AUS — April 9, 2009 – By Ben Graham, Dirt Modifieds Australia Media Liaison
*Ben Graham Photo
Australian V8 Dirt Modified Champion Peter Britten will create a little history in June when he becomes the first Australian driver to race a DIRTcar Modified in the United States. Britten will compete in six events in New York State in just over nine days during the peak US racing season.
“It’s very, very exciting,” said Britten, 21, from his Sinnamon Park (QLD) base. “Ever since I started racing, when I was 15, I’ve had a dream of one day racing in America and now that dream is finally coming true. I wouldn’t say the Australian Title win brought our plans (to race in America) forward, but it definitely confirmed in our minds that this was something we wanted to do.”
Britten campaigns an American-built Troyer V8 DIRTcar Modified in Australia and it has been Troyer Racecars owner Bill Colton who has been instrumental in bringing Britten to the United States. He will have a brand new Troyer DIRTcar Modified at his disposal and has secured a big-block (467 cubic inch) engine from the H & H Motorsport team for his North American adventure.
“The cars are the same but they are going to handle differently,” Britten revealed. “The Americans run smaller rear tires than we do and the big-blocks have about 200 more horsepower than we have here, so you’ve got a bit more power there to play with and a smaller tire to get it through. It will take a bit of adjusting but I can’t see why we won’t be able to get around pretty quickly and give it a good shake.”
Colton, who accompanied H & H Motorsport driver Jimmy Phelps to Australia in January, is confident Britten will be up to the task against some tough American competition.
“I wouldn’t be encouraging him to come all the way over here if I didn’t think he could compete,” Colton said. “He is a very talented young driver. Initially there is going to be a lot of pressure on him, not from us, but personal pressure. It’s going to be a big thing for him. As long as he can cope with that I think he’ll do real well.”
“The tracks will promote it, I know the DIRTcar organization will promote it so I think it is going to be a very good thing for DIRT Modifieds”
Peter Britten’s first race in America will be at Can-Am Motorsports Park in LaFargeville on June 12, followed by consecutive races at Fulton Speedway (June 13) and Cayuga County Fair Speedway (June 14) in Weedsport. His final three races will be at Brewerton Speedway (June 19), Canandaigua Speedway (June 20) and Cayuga County (June 21).
DIRTcar Racing Northeast Region Director of Series Competition and Track Sanctioning Cory Reed is looking forward to adding an international flavour to the 2009 season.
“I think the novelty of it will add spark to the race programs he participates in and draw some media attention,” Reed offered. “The more crossover the better between the two countries. An annual driver exchange would be welcomed on our end. I’d like to see three or four Aussies here and Americans there every year.”
“If it was up to me I’d love to race in America full-time” Britten added. “Whenever the chance arises to race over there I’ll gladly take it. Hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to do it again next year.”
For more information on V8 Dirt Modified racing in Australia, please visit www.v8dirtmodifieds.com.au
For further details, please contact:-
Ben Graham- Dirt Modifieds Australia Media Liaison
Ph: +61 413 761 733
E: ben@zoomxtreme.com.au
DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds www.cayugacountyfairspeedway.com, home of the 2009 DIRTcar All-Star Weekend, July 17-19, featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Sportsman and Big-Block Modifieds in the richest short-track show of its kind in the nation — the $20,000-to-win Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series “DIRTcar All-Star 100” on Sunday, July 19.
Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets As of April 19, 2008, the Company operated 3,291 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and on-line shopping for parts and accessories can be found on the Company’s web site at www.advanceautoparts.com.
