PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Showtime Speedway promoter Robert Yoho wears a lot of hats at his race track located near Clearwater, Fla.
On any given night, Yoho can be spotted cleaning up an accident, flagging practice, mounting tires and grilling burgers. But if you catch him at the right time, he might even be competing in the nights events as a competitor.
During last Saturday night’s Southern Figure 8 World Finals, Yoho pulled double duty. He competed in the 225-lap Late Model Figure 8 event and then followed it up by competing in the nights Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series winged sprint car event. To say he is versatile is an understatement.
Yoho loves to race, wants to race and will race in this weekend’s 4th annal Dave Steele 125 event for non-winged pavement sprint cars. Due to his commitments and time restraints of running the track, Yoho isn’t able to race as much as he would like. But he competes whenever possible, and this weekend will be another chance to get behind the wheel.
Yoho will be aboard the Mac Steele owned No. 33. The car is the exact same car the late Dave Steele wheeled to an undefeated streak in 2012.
“I’ve driven trucks, late models, modifieds, mini late models, figure 8 and sprints. I’ve basically driven everything here at Showtime Speedway,” Yoho explained. When asked what it’s like to drive a sprint car at Showtime Speedway, he was quick to answer, ”These cars are in a league of their own. They’re hard to drive compared to the others. It’s a very unpredictable and out of control race car.”
Yoho has shown signs of being competitive in the non-wing sprints despite limited seat time in recent seasons.
He missed out winning last year’s Showtime Speedway sprint car championship by a mere two points and finished runner up to Davey Hamilton Jr. the last time he took the wing off in late November. This weekend’s 4th annual Dave Steele 125 will be the longest sprint car race he has ever competed in. But he seems unnerved by the task at hand.
“I’m gonna approach this the same way I approach a 200-lap late model or outlaw figure 8 race. You gotta be there at the end,” Yoho said. “I love to race. That’s why I race because I like it. I’ll race a Crown Vic. It doesn’t matter to me. I just wanna race. Racing is racing. If we’re on the same playing field, it’s fun.”
Two-time Dave Steele 125 champion Kody Swanson offered his thoughts on Yoho competing this weekend.
“I can’t really remember ever running against the promoter. I appreciate Robert Yoho’s passion for the sport, and what he continues to do with his race track, and bringing this event back each year. He’s had success in many kinds of racing. I feel like he’ll do just fine in the race and run well. Maybe we’ll all look at this a little different with the helmets on. Maybe it makes since with all of us racing in the same event to honor our friend Dave Steele,” Swanson said.
Yoho has set the bar high with expectations for himself this weekend.
“I’d like to win it, but a top three would be a good start,” Yoho said.
The weekend kicks off this Friday night with qualifying and a dash for cash. The following night will feature the 125-lap event with a $5,000 winners’ payday on the line.