July 20, 1999

                What A Race Bar & Grill Should Be

These days it seems the fad among owners of local watering holes is to slap up a few freebies from  the Bud Man, Miller Lite Man, and the others suds merchants and call it a race bar. It’s probably good for business since even folks who couldn’t tell you what a roll cage is have become caught up in the hoopla surrounding the massive NASCAR public relations machine.

Lugnuts in Largo, Florida is a different kind of race bar, and you’re struck by that fact the moment you enter.

This past weekend Rick Anges and I had the pleasure to spend the entire day in the St Petersburg area and in the process discover a ‘real’ race bar and grill. After spending some time on the Short Track USA radio show with Bill Green and his able assistant Patti Brill, we were invited to Lugnuts, one of the sponsors of the show. 

When you first walk into Lugnuts your attention immediately goes to the interior decor. Car hoods, front ends, and other autographed sheet metal and fiberglass adorns the walls, ceilings. Some from NASCAR greats like Trickle and Irvin, most from Florida stars of the asphalt and dirt speedways of the Sunshine State.

In one corner is the wing from Sport Allen’s sprint car, another is Dave Pletchers Late Model hood, wheels, tires, photographs, and hundreds of other autographed memorbelia from all corners of the racing world.  Walking the walls isn’t enough at Lugnuts, as the ceilings are adorned with car parts which not only will bring back memories for race fans,  but you can get your own ceiling tile for your race team.

It just happened that Bill Green had just become a year older which of course meant that a surprise cake was in store from the folks at Lugnuts.  We watched the racing action from the previous week’s Sunshine show on the big screen television, with running commentary from Bill Green and some of the Sunshine drivers.

Since Rick Anges had to take a ride back to Bradenton to pick up his son and girlfriend for the evening racing at Sunshine, I decided I hadn’t had enough of this place yet. So I stayed behind to absorb more of this wonderful atmopshere. Terry Scampton, the owner of Lugnuts spent a hour or so telling me about the bar and how it had been created, and giving me a tour of the racing souviniers.

Terry said he started Lugnuts because “I was tired of going to places that had a picture of Dale Earnhart in a corner, and called themselves a race bar”.  This location had a pretty rough clientele when Terry moved in, but that certainly is no longer the case. The atmosphere is very friendly, and inviting enough to be completely comfortable to bring the kids.

While the band scheduled for the evening was setting up around us, Terry explained how he dosn’t have to go find eye catching racing displays any longer, in walks Kim Sheffler-Hays, back in town from a trip to Alabama, asking Terry if he would like a hood they brought back for him. Terry just smiled at me and said “see what I mean, they just bring it to me”.

Terry, partner Kevin, and able crew are providing a service no local track should be wthout, and they do it will a caring attitude that is infectious. “we haven’t even started yet” Terry said to me while describing plans for the future.  Started only nine months ago Lugnuts is a success story based on giving local short track fans a place to call home, have good conversation and  enjoy good entertainment in a fan friendly family environment. If you’re ever in the Sunshine area Lugnuts has to be a stop on your list. Good food, down to earth, and all about racing.