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NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Jim Hunt, 65, of Oshkosh, Wisc., gets his change back after breakfast Sunday with his family at Denny's restaurant on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach. Hunt is among thousands of NASCAR race fans staying in greater New Smyrna Beach during Speed Weeks, which ends with today's 52nd running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. Restaurants throughout New Smyrna Beach -- Ruthie's, Mom's, Pappas' Drive-In, the Beacon, Manny's, Jason' Corner and others were jam packed.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Jim Hunt was among the last wave of race fans that slammed Denny's restaurant Sunday morning on State Road 44 in advance of the Daytona 500.
Even as he paid for breakfast slam, people were lined up through the door waiting to be served -- the latest wave being the church goers, with most of the race fans on their way to Daytona International Speedway for the mid-day race. Hunt, 65, and his family and friends from Oshkosh, Wisc., attended Saturday's Nationwide 300 race won by Tony Stewart, but opted to stay at their New Smyrna Beach hotel room and watch the 500 on TV, instead. "We froze," said Hunt, wearing his heavy Dale Earnhardt jacket. "It was cold out there."
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NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. Amanda Fike, manager of Ruthie's Kozy Kitchen on West Canal Street, serves up the breakfast club. There wasn't an empty seat in the house, a welcome sight at the West Canal Street eatery, which has suffered in recent months because of the ongoing Streetscape project. Please see story on our Business page.
This particular Sunday morning was good to the local eateries for several reasons: the big race crowds, of course, plus the weather has gotten better and it's Valentine's Day.