NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A bit of Hollywood tinged with some NASCAR flavor came to New Smyrna Beach on Wednesday.
Nextel Cup driver Michael Waltrip was downtown to shoot a series of commercials for his sponsor, NAPA Auto Parts.
The filming disrupted and rerouted traffic along Canal Street and some of its side streets periodically throughout much of the day, limiting access to stores. But many owners seemed pleased with the attention the city was receiving.
"This is great," said Bob Morrow of Bob's Automotive Service. His Faulkner Street garage virtually was taken over by the production company. Morrow even got to be part of the commercial by driving cars up and down the street.
Pat Leen of Merle Norman Cosmetics on Canal Street, who got her picture taken with Waltrip during a break in filming, said the attention was good for business.
"We have been busy all day," she said. "People are coming to check out what is going on and coming into the store."
Mark Martin fan Karen Guertin was pleased to have a driver in town, even if it was not her favorite.
"Michael is OK," she said.
Greg Pope of Two Pope Productions, the company producing the commercials, said he chose New Smyrna Beach because its location provided everything they needed, including support of the community.
"This area is cooperative to filmmaking," he said.
The production crew moves to Port Orange today to wrap up filming.
The commercials are set to air during the Daytona 500 on Feb. 19.
