The Showtime Speedway in Pinellas County, Florida is no longer in danger of being paved over, for the time being. When the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) bought the land the track sits on to make way for a planned toll road, Senator Jack Latvia of Clearwater fought to help save the track, first temporarily, and now possibly for good.

Thanks to Lavita and the community’s efforts, the FDOT was willing to shift its plans slightly to the west to give the raceway enough room to remain open.

“Thanks to the cooperation of the Department of Transportation we have figured out how to keep not only the ovals but the dragstrip open for those who enjoy it,” said Sen. Latvala during a news conference.

The Showtime Speedway originally opened in 1960 as the Sunshine Speedway and now features oval track racing and a dragstrip.

“I’d like to bring it back better than its heyday,” said Showtime Speedway operator Bob Yoho.
 
The track has signed a five-year lease with the FDOT with hopes of getting another five-year extension on top of that.  Yoho says he sees no reason why the facility would not be able to remain open for many years into the future.

Photo courtesy of Showtime Speedway.