MILFORD, Del.- The caution flags will be flying this weekend and unfortunately businesses are a little slower than a usual race weekend.
Business owners along Route 1 usually drum up a huge celebration when NASCAR comes to Dover, attracting fans and generating income.
The owner of J & C Liquor Mart right off of the highway in Frederica says more people come to the store on a normal race weekend. They have a big sign telling race fans to come and get their alcoholic beverages there.
In Milford, Meding Seafood usually cleans up on race weekend. The market and restaurant was busy today, but the crowds and feel was not the same.
NASCAR is a big part of the tradition at Meding’s Seafood. Owner Robbie Meding says that they will be sponsoring some cars in this weekend’s race and that teams visited the establishment this past week.
"Thursday night was our normal kickoff party for the race weekend and it was nothing," Meding said. "We had a few race car teams come in and you didn’t even know it was race weekend."
Friendships have been made between Meding and some of the racers they sponsor. The racers enjoy coming into the shop to pick up and eat fresh seafood each time they are competing at Dover International Speedway. Fans also pull off of the highway to chow down or pick up some seafood to take home. Meding is not pleased with the timing of the rescheduled race.
"The race being after Labor Day was a nice hit in Delaware.," Meding said. "It’s busy enough now. I was worried when it was announced it was going to be in the middle of the summer in August in the heat and the traffic is happening. So, what would it have done? We are not going to experience that now."
A loss for local businesses, but they hope a victory lane could be celebrated again soon.