CONCORD, NC :: 2013 Easter Bunny 150 winner Preston Peltier has been sidelined from racing after injuring himself in a fall a few weeks ago.  The driver, who considers himself lucky to be alive, is hoping to return to competition in the PASS South Super Late Model Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series in the next month.  Now, he’s planning to race like there is no tomorrow.

Peltier says he was in the attic of his home when he slipped and fell through the ceiling, falling 20 feet and landing on his back.  He spoke about his injury and his recovery in a phone interview with RACE22.com.

“I broke my left arm, left wrist and my right elbow,” Peltier said.  “When it happened, I hit the ground and landed on my back.  I thought that I broke my back but I’m okay and really lucky that I’m still here.  I’ve been told a 12 foot fall like that can be fatal.”

Peltier hopes to return to the PASS South Series soon but doesn’t know how long he will be out.

“It’s hard to say how long I’ll be out.  I’m supposed to go back to the doctor Wednesday.  I had surgery done on my arm and wrist and I’ll know more then.  They told me it would probably be two months when I had the surgery but I heal quickly so it might be sooner than that.  If I can be at Kenly, I’ll be there.  If not, I’ll go with Cole Timm and watch.  I’m hoping to be back for Southern National but it’s probably a long shot.  It’ll probably be another four weeks before I can safely do it but I’ve got to wait and see what the doctors say.”

Peltier could put Tyler Church in his car at Southern National if he can’t race but, as of now, that is not the plan for Peltier.  Prior to his injury, Peltier had a strong season going in PASS South competition.  He won the Easter Bunny 150 and finished second in the very next race at Southern National Motorsports Park.

“We should’ve won at Dillon and got knocked out of the way on the last lap and should’ve won at Kenly but someone blew up and I almost wrecked.  The only race we didn’t have a chance to win was South Boston because we were wrecked early but we had a fast car even with the damage.  Right before the caution came out, we passed Ross Kenseth and he ended up winning.”

While Peltier wasn’t racing for points in PASS competition this season, he plans to let it all hang out when he returns knowing any possible championship is out of the equation.

“We never really were running for points.  We’re just racing, having a good time.  I started running the K&N stuff so we were going to miss some races.  Obviously, we didn’t plan on this happening but I guess it kind of worked out.  It’s kind of a good thing because we can just race for wins instead of focusing on points.  When you’re racing for points, you’re always a little more cautious.”

Once Peltier returns to competition in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the PASS South Super Late Model Series, he will continue to race for fun.  He says he’s not aiming to step up in to the ARCA or NASCAR Nationwide Series ranks.

“I don’t have any (NASCAR ambitions),” Peltier explained.  “I used to dream of racing when I was a kid but I’m over the age limit now.  I do what I do because it’s fun.  We just want to have fun.  I’m not looking to go make anything out of it.”

As Peltier continues to recovery from injuries sustained in his fall, he says he has a new perspective of life.

“If this injury taught me anything, it taught me that you’re not promised tomorrow.  I’m lucky I’m still here but I just want to enjoy life while I’m here.”