While Tony Stewart is racing in Vegas, his fans and auto
enthusiasts will enjoy what “Smoke” sent to SpeedwayEXPO
presented by Sunoco on February 29-March 2. The 1984 Cadillac
Brougham hearse often referred to as one of Tony’s prize
possessions will be on display throughout the weekend.
The tricked-out hearse was restored and customized by Will
Castro’s Unique Autosports of Long Island for the Speed Channel
show Unique Whips. Castro will also appear at SpeedwayEXPO and
sign autographs from noon to 5:00 on Sunday, March 2.
The hearse, which Stewart bought “just to mess with people,”
is affectionately called "Smoke deVille." Acquired from a
Cincinnati funeral home, Stewart delivered the hearse to Castro
in 2006 for a five-month customization. The finished product
includes murals, body modifications and tons of interior
accessories. Attendees at SpeedwayEXPO will see the unique
vehicle up close.
Will Castro is the founder and owner of Unique Autosports, a
leading automotive customizer. While still in high school, Will
got a taste of the car business while working at a body shop.
That sparked him to open Willie’s Shape & Shine, in Islip, New
York, in the 1980s. The business, and demand for his
conversions, grew. He then formed Unique Conversions and, in
1999, changed the name to Unique Autosports.
Unique’s first celebrity clients were Erick Sermon and
Parrish Smith and the rap pioneers EPMD. Word of Castro’s
craftsmanship quickly spread through the rap community and
landed Hip-Hop artists like Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, Wyclef, Fat
Joe and more. Castro’s client list also includes Marc Anthony,
John Singleton, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby,
Jermaine O'Neal, Yao Ming, Pamela Anderson and Tom Wolfe as well
as many NASCAR, NFL and MLB stars. His work has been featured on
MTV Cribs, VH1, MTV2, ESPN, Fox, CBS and BET. His top-rated show
on SpeedTV, Unique Whips, draws more than a million viewers and
fans around the world.
SpeedwayEXPO ‘08 presented by Sunoco will take place February
29-March 2 in the Mallary Complex at the Eastern States
Exposition Center in West Springfield, MA. More than three acres
of indoor space will be dedicated to motorsports, including
local and regional race tracks and associations as well as
vendors of performance parts, safety equipment, accessories,
apparel and memorabilia. In addition there will be a full
schedule of special events, racing seminars and activities such
as autograph sessions, the Pit Crew Challenge, pedal-car races
for the kids and a host of special vehicle displays like "Smoke
deVille."
SpeedwayEXPO tickets are $15 for adults, children ages 10 and
under are free. Coupons worth $5 off EXPO admission are
available at participating Sunoco stations. For complete
information on exhibits, activities, schedules and driving
directions, go to
speedwayexpo.com or call 978-465-9099.
Source: Dale
Wolbrink/racinpr@aol.com
Posted:
February 10, 2008
