CLEARWATER, Fla. — Street racing has been a problem in Tampa Bay for many years, and despite law enforcements best efforts to crack down on it, the races still take place, but now, a professional racer is getting involved and giving people a safe, legal place to fulfill their need for speed.

Ryan Oehler, who goes by "Flyin' Ryan" on the NHRA racing circuit, launched "Tampa Bay Race Rentals" at the Showtime Drag Strip in Clearwater, and in conjunction with the business, he's also launching a program aimed at young adults to teach them about legal racing.

Oehler still remembers what it was like as a teenager in Illinois, wanting to race cars, but not having a safe place to do it. 

"I ran over enough mailboxes, curbs, speeding tickets, jeopardy of losing my license,” said Oehler. “The first time I went to a drag strip was the Route 66 Raceway, and I'm like, this is real?!  You want me to go as fast as I can? This is an opportunity to get the full effect of these cars, and you're encouraged to go as fast as you want to go in the safest way possible."

Tampa Bay Race Rentals gives people an opportunity to race brand new Mustang GT's down the drag strip. 

Oehler started the business one year ago, and officially held the grand opening this week, but so far, he says it's been a huge success.  People love driving as fast as they can for that quarter mile.

In conjunction with the race rentals, Oehler is also launching "Race the Strip, Not the Streets." 

It's a program for young people to learn how to drag race, and it provides them with a safe place to do it at the Showtime Drag Strip.​

"With all the organizations we have that are fully organized to do proper racing taking kids and giving them that opportunity to come do this in a safe way, in a legal way,” Oehler said. “I think the thrill of knowing you're not going to get in trouble and that you are going to go home safe is something everyone needs to experience.”