By ohnson 
A partnership that was unimaginable in November has astonishingly taken shape at lightning speed as everyone gears up for the 2017 Modified racing season.
Peter Britten unexpectedly emerged as a free agent in December, and at the eastern tip of New York State, there was a gentleman with a burning desire to steer things in the right direction for the approaching year.
Veteran racer Andy Romano, who had taken a step back from the sport, experienced a rejuvenation. Suddenly, Albany-Saratoga Speedway has a new and powerful combination to add to its weekly pit lineup.
As previously reported on DirtTrackDigest.com, Andy Romano and Peter Britten will make Malta their home every Friday night.
Andy’s son Mike, the owner of Andy’s Speed Shop, told DTD, “Dad made a comeback to racing last year and purchased a car from a customer of mine at Lebanon Valley. Danny Varin and (Jeff) Trombley drove the car, but dad had his sights set on getting back into racing this winter with a big-block, yet couldn’t find anyone to handle the full season. We discussed I-88 (Afton Motorsports Park) and even running at Utica-Rome on Sundays, but the crew members were reluctant to work on Sunday nights.”
Continuing, he said, “Malta is nearby and they wrap up the show at a decent hour. It’s not an expensive form of racing and it offers quality competition. You don’t wear out tires there and it’s kind to engines.”
Mike stated that Peter was a perfect match for the Friday night speedway. He elaborated, “I’ve known Peter as he was a customer of mine when he competed at Malta for a couple of years. I knew he was seeking a ride and my dad was not only hunting for a place to race but also a driver. We were having no luck finding a driver and Peter showed interest. The deal simply fell into place.”
“Peter is a popular figure,” said Romano, “The guys at Malta enjoy racing with him. He has an excellent reputation, is a skilled driver, highly respected and is a great addition to Malta.”
Anyone familiar with Britten realizes that he is one of those genuinely “nice guys” and that played a part in the birth of the new team.
Romano explained, “Dad isn’t a youngster and goes to the races to have a good time. A win is an added bonus, but he understands that he wants to win without having confrontations every night.”
Britten is typically far removed from controversy.
Britten performed well during his brief tenure as a regular at Albany-Saratoga.
“I had multiple victories there and was even second in points,” commented Britten. “I felt I was always a contender to win. “
He ventured there early in the 2016 season and indeed emerged victorious.
However, the excitement was short-lived as he elaborated, “HBR dictated my schedule as I worked for them and it wasn’t in their plans for me to race at Albany-Saratoga, so I didn’t get the chance to return as I was at Brewerton mentoring Max McLaughlin on Friday nights.”
The mentoring was acceptable to Peter, “It wasn’t bad and I relished it,” but like any driver, he noted, “I would have preferred to race.”
However, Peter explained, “I got to engage in a significant amount of racing last year and racing for HBR was a golden opportunity. I participated weekly at Canandaigua and all the Super Dirt Series races. I had to sacrifice Fridays, but was able to race regularly.”
Currently, the Romano team has a Teo in their stable, but Romano clarified, “I think Peter simply feels more at ease in a Troyer and we will acquire a new Troyer. The plan is to commence building the car in a couple of weeks.”
In late December, Peter Britten was released from HBR racing, which led to his need to search for a ride.
“It wasn’t a complete shock,” stated Britten. “Some aspects on my end weren’t functioning smoothly and the organization was undergoing a transformation. I just didn’t align with the direction things were headed. I just didn’t anticipate it ending as promptly as it did.”
Then came the arrangement with Andy Romano. Peter said, “I’m over the moon about it. I’m extremely grateful for the chance he’s offering me. This is an exceptional opportunity. Anyone who grants you the opportunity to drive their car is an honor and a privilege. They invest a substantial amount of money in the car and I’m deeply appreciative.”
Interestingly, Britten noted, “Andy visited HBR to inspect the cars they were selling at the end of the season.”
Who could have envisioned that a few months later the two would unite?
“I was seeking a racing home and apparently my name surfaced,” mentioned Britten. “We are both on the same wavelength and I have a feeling it’s going to be a great year. To succeed as a team, you need to be in sync, gel together and race towards a common goal. I truly believe Andy and I desire the same things – to have fun and perform well.”
The “deal” with Billy Colton at Troyer is likely to be an asset as Britten seems highly comfortable in that type of chassis. It has been a chassis that he has frequently competed in since his arrival from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia several years ago as his roots lie in the Troyer stable.
Peter explained, “I will assist in constructing the car, but for the weekly maintenance and adjustments, I won’t be as involved as there’s a considerable distance between us. However, they have a couple of highly competent crew members. I want to ensure everything is in order as we build the car and we’ll be prepared to hit the track.”
It seems that this team will only compete at Malta throughout the 2017 season. However, Romano did say, “We’ll wait and see how it progresses.”
New York State race enthusiasts have witnessed Romano behind the wheel for years. Andy, Mike and A.J. have raced all across the Empire State. Although there won’t be a Romano at the wheel of a big-block Modified, the family legacy persists.
Andy’s Speed Shop, Andy’s Service and Troyer Race Cars will adorn the body of the new car and Peter Britten will carry the longstanding history of the Romano family to the racetrack every Friday night.
Will Britten engage in any other racing this year?
He said, “I’m on the lookout for weekend and Super Dirt Series races, but nothing is firmly in place as of yet. I need to monitor how things develop. There aren’t many available rides for the series. I’d like to control my own racing destiny and am hopeful that I can eventually achieve that. However, I’ll need to secure some support to assist me. If I could find an alternative, that would be fantastic.”
Britten does have a starting point and he noted, “HBR aided me in getting started. They provided me with the cars I raced last year. One was the car I shared with Dave Blaney and the other was my main car. They were kind enough to offer those to set me off. They require some work, but the most significant challenge right now is that I don’t have any engines and that’s the biggest obstacle.”
Regardless, Britten has maintained an optimistic mindset.
“I just need to put in the hard work to get going again. I don’t feel sorry for myself and simply need to make things happen.”
You can tell he’s eager to race. He’s all set for Friday night at Albany-Saratoga and it’s possible that if the circumstances are right, fans will witness him in more action during the 2017 racing season.