"Third Time's a Charm"

     Hello Fellow Castle Creeps:
   You know the old saying, "You can't go back!"  It's all hype, don't believe it.  I wrote a blog about this 6-7 years ago in a different context but lightning has struck twice so I do believe the old saying bears repeating.  Believe me when I tell you..."You CAN go back." :)))
   Okay, now let me explain.  Back in 2004, as the clock struck midnight on November 20th, changing over to November 21st (my birthday), I got a real sucky first present; the race track I'd been going to for nearly forty years (since I was a kid) was closing for good.  I was one of the last to leave Sunshine Speedway, though with me, I greedily took all my good memories of racing over the years at the 1/4 mile oval
   Oh it wasn't like I never saw any races again.  I had gone to Lakeland Speedway a few times (even twice when it was a 3/4 mile track) and the last three years saw me haunting East Bay Raceway Park (a 1/3 mile dirt track) over in Riverview (a suburb of Tampa).  I even went to Citrus County Speedway once in 2008 and spent a couple evenings at DeSoto Speedway in Bradenton.  Still, I longed for the track that I always called home.  I even raced out there for 2 1/2 seasons in the late seventies in the Thundercars, a hobby class for novice racers.  I think part of the reason I often thought about the track was because the facility was still there.  The grandstands and a couple of the buildings had been removed but the track found new life as a testing facility for Sun Pass toll booth advancements.
   Well, this year the track that I loved so much had a second lease on life with new track owners Robert and Danielle Yoho.  Robert was no stranger to the track having both raced out there and further supporting the track by supplying some of his trucks from his towing service.  His racing name was Robert "Showtime" Yoho.  Now the track will re-open as "SHOWTIME SPEEDWAY!"  The reason I say will re-open is because the grand opening will be on July 28th with a 75 lap Late Model feature and a 50 lap Modified feature.  You can bet your bottom dollar I'll be there to see it.
   But...if you act now, there's more.  The speedway has had a soft opening over the last three weeks to work some of the kinks out of a new, growing system.  I've been there every week and I can tell you the racing is already heating up with many phenomenal performances already committed to memory.

   Like a Phoenix taking flight, Showtime Speedway will now replace Sunshine Speedway.  May it create as many great memories as its predecessor.  I'm looking forward to every minute of it, and if the last three weeks is any indication, I'm sure it will.
   So if you live in Pinellas County or just visit, make sure you put Showtime Speedway on your list of options.  It's Saturday night racing once again in Pinellas County.  "Racers...Start Your Engines!"
   Have a Great Day!!!
   The "Creature"
   P.S.  Always remember; "You can go back."  C-Ya!!!