Volusia County

Complaints call for Daytona Truck Meet not to return next year

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Thousands of custom truck owners descended on Daytona Beach over the weekend for the Daytona Truck Meet and local residents have some complaints.

Among them: fights, burnouts, and traffic congestion.

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The city’s mayor posted on Facebook that he’d received many complaints about it and wants to be sure it does not happen again.

Tim Stodola, who lives beachside, said the event brought bumper-to-bumper traffic, heavy exhaust and loud music and engines outside his door until 3 a.m.

READ: Special passes return to Daytona Beach for busy Daytona Truck Meet weekend

But others see the event as a huge boost for some businesses that would normally be slow this time of year.

Vic Spanos, who owns Eat Greek on Beach Street and Spanos Motors on International Speedway Boulevard, said his sales doubled this weekend at his restaurant and he sold a couple of trucks.

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“I figure if people want to come here and spend money they have expensive trucks then why not,” Spanos said.

The event is not sponsored or sanctioned by the city, but city leaders plan to discuss the event at their meeting on Wednesday.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.

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