Although pinched by costs, fans flock to Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH – George and Jeanne Kamansky, of Amherst, Mass., didn’t buy a chrome-plated Dale Earnhardt Jr. dog bowl just to leave little Timber behind in a kennel when they go off to the races a half-dozen times a year.

They can compensate for a $3 gallon of gas


“The price of gas won’t keep us from coming to the races, but we’re not coming back next year if we can’t bring our dog,” said George, who is at Daytona for the 15th consecutive year. “That’s serious. Sure, everyone talks about the price of fuel, but that’s not what will keep us away.”

The price of gas also didn’t stop Bill and Sandy Houck, of Newark, Del., or Don and JoAnne Womacks, of Springfield, Ohio, who were spread about different parts of the camping area.

“Yes, the gas is high, and at some point people just won’t pay it,” said Don Womacks, whose license plate is WEGORCN. “But we’re here. It didn’t keep us away. We’ve been coming too many years to stop now.”

Womacks estimated his round-trip fuel costs for his motor home at $950. But considering that the camping site for Speedweeks was $500, and the Daytona 500 race tickets alone were $200 each, gas was not his top concern this week.

“I just want to see Junior [Dale Earnhardt Jr.] win another race,” he said. “Then it’s all worth it.”

Orlando Sentinel