NASCAR's Evolution in Dover: Local Hoteliers, Race Fans Weigh In

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Up to one foot of inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas, near shorelines and tidal waterways. * WHERE...In Maryland, Dorchester, Wicomico and Somerset Counties. In Virginia, Northumberland, Lancaster and Accomack Counties. * WHEN...From 11 PM this evening to 6 AM EDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Shallow flooding is expected in the most vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline resulting in a low threat of property damage. Expect up to one foot of water above ground level in low lying, vulnerable areas. Some roads and low lying property including parking lots, parks and lawns near the waterfront will experience shallow flooding. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. && Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour. CAMBRIDGE MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.5 FT, MODERATE 4.0 FT, MAJOR 4.5 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.5 FT, MODERATE 2.0 FT, MAJOR 2.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/04 PM 2.7 0.7 0.9 1 NONE 08/05 AM 3.6 1.6 1.2 1 MINOR 08/05 PM 2.9 0.9 1.2 1 NONE 09/06 AM 3.6 1.6 1.2 1 MINOR 09/06 PM 2.9 0.9 1.2 1 NONE 10/06 AM 3.5 1.5 1.2 1 NONE BISHOPS HEAD MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.2 FT, MODERATE 3.7 FT, MAJOR 4.2 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.1 FT, MODERATE 1.6 FT, MAJOR 2.1 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/02 PM 2.8 0.7 0.7 1 NONE 08/02 AM 3.5 1.4 0.9 1 MINOR 08/02 PM 2.9 0.8 0.9 1 NONE 09/03 AM 3.7 1.6 1.1 1 MINOR 09/03 PM 3.0 0.9 1.0 1 NONE 10/03 AM 3.5 1.4 1.0 1 MINOR CRISFIELD MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.5 FT, MODERATE 4.0 FT, MAJOR 5.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.3 FT, MODERATE 1.8 FT, MAJOR 2.8 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 08/01 AM 3.6 1.4 1.2 1 MINOR 08/01 PM 3.0 0.8 1.3 1 NONE 09/02 AM 3.7 1.5 1.2 1 MINOR 09/02 PM 3.1 0.9 1.4 1 NONE 10/02 AM 3.8 1.6 1.4 1 MINOR LEWISETTA VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.0 FT, MODERATE 3.5 FT, MAJOR 4.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.5 FT, MODERATE 2.0 FT, MAJOR 2.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/02 PM 2.3 0.8 0.8 1 NONE 08/02 AM 3.1 1.6 1.3 1 MINOR 08/02 PM 2.5 1.0 1.1 1 NONE 09/03 AM 2.9 1.4 1.1 1 NONE 09/03 PM 2.5 1.0 1.1 1-2 NONE 10/03 AM 2.8 1.3 1.1 1 NONE WINDMILL POINT VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.0 FT, MODERATE 3.5 FT, MAJOR 4.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.6 FT, MODERATE 2.1 FT, MAJOR 2.6 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/11 PM 2.7 1.3 1.1 1 NONE 08/12 PM 2.4 1.0 1.2 1 NONE 09/12 AM 2.8 1.4 1.2 1 NONE 09/11 AM 2.2 0.8 1.2 1 NONE 10/01 AM 2.8 1.4 1.2 1 NONE SAXIS VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 4.5 FT, MODERATE 5.5 FT, MAJOR 6.5 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 2.0 FT, MODERATE 3.0 FT, MAJOR 4.0 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 08/12 AM 4.0 1.5 0.9 1 NONE 08/01 PM 3.5 1.0 1.1 1 NONE 09/01 AM 4.1 1.6 1.0 1 NONE 09/01 PM 3.5 1.0 1.3 1 NONE 10/02 AM 4.2 1.7 1.2 1 NONE NASSAWADOX CREEK AT BAYFORD VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.0 FT, MODERATE 3.5 FT, MAJOR 4.5 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.0 FT, MODERATE 1.5 FT, MAJOR 2.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/10 PM 2.9 0.9 0.8 1 NONE 08/11 AM 2.5 0.5 0.9 1 NONE 09/12 AM 3.2 1.2 1.1 1 MINOR 09/11 AM 2.6 0.6 1.1 1-2 NONE 10/01 AM 3.2 1.2 1.2 2 MINOR 10/12 PM 2.4 0.4 0.9 2 NONE CHINCOTEAGUE INLET VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 4.5 FT, MODERATE 5.0 FT, MAJOR 6.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.7 FT, MODERATE 2.2 FT, MAJOR 3.2 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/08 PM 3.8 1.0 0.4 2 NONE 08/09 AM 3.0 0.2 0.5 2 NONE 08/09 PM 3.8 1.0 0.4 2 NONE 09/10 AM 2.9 0.1 0.5 2 NONE 09/10 PM 3.9 1.1 0.5 1-2 NONE 10/10 AM 2.9 0.1 0.6 1 NONE WACHAPREAGUE VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 6.5 FT, MODERATE 7.5 FT, MAJOR 8.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 2.0 FT, MODERATE 3.0 FT, MAJOR 3.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/09 PM 6.2 1.7 0.8 1 NONE 08/09 AM 5.0 0.5 0.9 1 NONE 08/10 PM 6.3 1.8 0.9 1 NONE 09/10 AM 4.7 0.2 0.8 1 NONE 09/11 PM 6.1 1.6 0.8 1 NONE 10/11 AM 4.7 0.2 0.9 1 NONE &&

DOVER, Del.- The NASCAR tripleheader roared to life at Dover Motor Speedway Friday. As the track heated up, local businesses and hotels welcomed a surge of visitors. Yet, for some, the enthusiasm surrounding the event doesn't quite match the past.

Fans flocked to the Monster Mile, arriving in trailers and checking into nearby hotels.

Phil Syriack, travelling to the event from Massachusetts, exclaimed, "I'm on vacation from work and ready to go!"

Daisy, managing the Fairfield Inn on North Dupont Highway, mentioned that the rooms there have been fully booked for months.

"NASCAR is a big event, and for the race people who are just so excited, we have been sold out since the fall," she shared.

Other hotels also noted the annual surge of sales in April due to NASCAR.

"With the whole inflation and everything, it is hurting people, so people don't have enough for the hotel and for traveling purposes," said Raj, a Red Roof Inn representative. "But NASCAR helps a lot with the business because it boosts the entire town."

However, Raj noted an apparent decline in excitement surrounding race weekend over time.

"We used to get a lot of people," he emphasized. "There was so much traffic during races and everything but since 2012, they have taken down bleachers and reduced the capacity."

WBOC reported in 2019 Dover International Speedway removed 29,000 seats that surround the track, reducing the venue's maximum capacity in its grandstands to 54,000 fans.

Despite these challenges, hotels rely on loyal fans like Butch Helmick and David Henger, who return each year and set up a tailgate right outside the Red Roof.

"The weather is great this year. Last year, it rained the whole time but we still enjoyed it," Henger remarked. Both friends agreed that NASCAR might be losing its popularity, especially among younger generations.

"It was bigger 10 years ago. I think a lot of things happened; it gets a little smaller as people get older. Younger people don't want to be into the sport as much," Henger added.

Gary, an event volunteer, reminisced about the changes in Dover: "They used to have parades back then during the town; they don't have that anymore. I don't know the reasons why, but everything is so expensive now."

Dover Motor Speedway introduced new attractions this year, such as the world's largest rubber duck and a petting zoo in the fan zone. Some hotels mentioned benefiting from NASCAR employees staying with them for extended periods.

Tomorrow's race is set to start at 1:30 p.m., followed by the Cup Series on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Weather Alert

Coastal Flood Advisory from TUE 11:00 PM EDT until WED 6:00 AM EDT

NASCAR's Evolution in Dover: Local Hoteliers, Race Fans Weigh In

Kristina DeRobertis

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