Drivers craving that “need for speed” don’t have to risk lives on roads and bridges. They can get their adrenaline rush on Tampa Bay area drag strips and race tracks.
On the tracks, there are no cops, only a few rules and just in case, a medical team.
You could call it controlled chaos.
But at the Showtime Speedway on Wednesday night, it’s officially “drifting.”
You can’t do it, or at least you shouldn’t do this, on public streets.
“We can’t get enough of it. Definitely try to come out here as much as we can,” said driver Aaron Obregon.
Wednesday night is “test and tune” night, where anybody can give it a whirl.
For the drivers, street racing is off limits.
“There’s just too many places that we can go to it, not be on the street. Like, we can come here, there’s a few other tracks,” said Obregon.
The drivers were horrified to hear street racing killed two on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, and the two men, accused of racing on the Gandy Bridge with kids in the car.
“There’s no point in putting other people’s lives in jeopardy like that. It’s not smart in any thought like that,” said Jonathan Messerersmith.
“It’s beyond stupidity if you ask me,” said Showtime owner, Robert Yoho.
He reminds drivers, $25 to $50 to drive on the track is far cheaper than what could happen on the street.
“Lose your job and you’ve ruined your life. It’s not that expensive. If you take somebody else’s life, and you’re sitting in prison or jail, it’s not that expensive,” said Yoho.
He wants to make it easy for drivers to get their thrills.
“If you’ve got a group of people want to street race, come to Showtime, we’ll make arrangements,” he said.
