NASCAR race weekend drives fans to local businesses

KIDDER TOWNSHIP, CARBON COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — NASCAR is back in the Poconos at the tricky triangle.

Five miles down the road, Harmony Beverage will soon be packed with thirsty customers.

Paul Wisnieski says, “We get a lot of loyal customers and they’ve been coming to the race for 30, 40 years and you know, this is one of the staples in the community and they stop by here.”

Supporting local brews across northeastern Pennsylvania, owner Paul Wisnieski says the crowds brought in by race weekend are vital to small businesses like his.

“It’s an exciting time up here for everybody and we see just the influx in traffic, not only in our store, but when you drive around the mountain and go to different restaurants, you see a wait, and it’s just good to see people up here and good to see them supporting the local community,” Wisnieski says.

Chief Scott Wuttke says, “Benefitting not just business, but also community, Harmony Beverage works with Lake Harmony Rescue Squad for its annual hot dog fundraiser.” “You come over, you shop around here, we cook you a hot dog, you donate if you want if you don’t, we’ll still cook you a hot dog.”

The shop and rescue squad have worked together for more than five years to host the event taking place on Friday and Saturday.

Chief Wuttke says it gives out-of-town fans a chance to learn the importance of fundraising for a rural, volunteer organization.

“Helps with funding the equipment, the new ambulance, obviously it’s not cheap. The new ambulance is going to run us about $260,000.”

The Lake Harmony Rescue Squad’s hot dog fundraiser at Harmony Beverage runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, at Pocono Raceway, the NASCAR truck series kicks off race weekend Friday evening.

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