Local businesses gear up for NASCAR race weekend
Thousands of people are gearing up for NASCAR's big tripleheader race weekend in Dover.
It's the 49th year the event happens in the city, bringing between 10 to 14 million dollars every year, according to officials.
"NASCAR during the race weekend has a 10 to 14-million-dollar impact on the city with people eating at restaurants and shopping at our stores, so it has a major impact for the city and Kent County," said City of Dover Mayor Robin R. Christiansen.
According to Mayor Christiansen, the event also brings about 160,000 people who come visit for the race weekend.
Gary Camp, the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications, agrees that the event gives the city a chance for local businesses to show what the community has to offer.
"We work all year round for these large event weekends and so both our NASCAR events and Firefly events – that's our bread and butter," said Camp.
"So it's a huge opportunity for us to showcase this area, this region and our property," Camp said.
Leighanne Franks, the General Manager for the local restaurant Glasgow Deli, said race weekend brings more customers and an increase in sales.
"The event is important because it brings business," said Franks.
"It brings curious customers who always come back and visit again, and it's obviously goof for neighboring businesses as well," Franks said.
Traffic is also expected to bring road closures in Dover.
According to officials, there will be heavier traffic throughout the week, especially on Sunday before and after the race.
DelDOT crews will monitor the roads, especially on Route 13 going through Dover, said C.R. McLeod, the DelDOT Director for Community Relations.
"It's going to be a busy weekend in and around Dover with Dover Days happening in Downtown Dover this weekend," said McLeod.
According to McLeod, there will be road closures around Legislative Hall.
"For race weekend, we're expecting a lot of RVs and the travelors coming in over the next couple of days, and then we'll see the people who are just coming in for the race on Sunday as well," McLeod said.
