Two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip visits Flagler Beach restaurants
Flagler Beach was met with a surprise guest earlier this month when a two-time Daytona 500 winner stopped by for lunch.
Former NASCAR Cup Series driver Michael Waltrip was photographed at Next Door Beach Bistro Aug. 17. The Kentucky native, who's said to now reside in North Carolina, is one of only a dozen drivers who has won the race more than once, according to NBC Sports, nabbing the trophy in both 2001 and 2003.
During his career, Waltrip spent 33 years as a NASCAR Cup Series driver where he competed in 784 Cup Series races. In 2011, he joined the Triple Threat Club, “a distinction given to any driver who has won a race at all three top NASCAR national divisions: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series,” according to World Sports Network.
Now, he's not only a FOX Sports analyst, but also a New York Times best-selling author and the "chief fun officer" of the Michael Waltrip Brewing Company, which "distributes its beers regionally in retail, bars and restaurants," according to its website. His brews are also available at the Daytona Beach International Airport.
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Waltrip started his afternoon at Golden Lion’s tiki bar where he enjoyed the musical talents of Rick Grano on stage for an hour, before heading over to Next Door Beach Bistro, according to Tony and Carolyn Marlow, owners of both restaurants.
While his visit was certainly a surprise, it seems the Flagler Beach eateries are no stranger to celebrity sightings.
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It all started when country music star and NASCAR enthusiast Tim Dugger filmed his “Buy A Bar” music video at Golden Lion Cafe over a year ago, the Marlows noted. The video later debuted online in 2023.
“That brought Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the Golden Lion — he wanted to check out the place his buddy was singing about,” the Marlows said in an email.
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Earnhardt Jr., a third-generation NASCAR driver, two-time Daytona 500 winner and 15-time winner of the Most Popular Driver award, according to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, visited the Flagler Beach restaurant in February 2023, during Race Week.
It’s assumed Waltrip was in the area ahead of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 which took place at the Speedway this past weekend.
“How cool he stopped at both restaurants,” the Marlows continued over email. “Then on his personal Instagram page he posted a pic at Golden Lion and tagged his buddy Tim Dugger!!! So it is one big circle.”
Waltrip also visited Ponce Inlet's Racing's North Turn this past weekend for a meet-and-greet event at the restaurant where fans were invited to "have a bite to eat" and a "cold one or two" with Michael Waltrip Brewing Company.
Golden Lion Cafe is located at 501 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. in Flagler Beach. For information, call 386-439-3004 or visit goldenlioncafe.com. Next Door Beach Bistro is located at 509 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. in Flagler Beach. For information, call 386-338-3506 or visit nextdoorbeachbistro.com.
Both restaurants are open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip visits Flagler restaurants