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Irish Mike’s Flynn Enjoys First Taste of Street Racing at Long Beach

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Official Release
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LONG BEACH, CA (13 April 2022) – Irish Mike’s Racing made its street racing debut with a pair of IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by Visit Cayman Islands races in the historic Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Conor Flynn got his first taste of temporary-course competition, finishing 12th and 10th in the Pro class driving the No. 95 FlynnCo Cars / Chillout Systems Porsche 992.

Teammate Craig Conway was scheduled to pilot the No. 97 Diamond Suzuki Porsche in the Porsche Pro-Am division, but travel cancellations forced the Floridian to miss the event.

“It was a pretty incredible weekend, being at Long Beach,” Flynn said. “We made huge steps forward with the car, with the development and learning it for the team. Now we’re super excited heading toward our next race at Laguna Seca in three weeks.”

Running near the back of the pack in the opening segments of qualifying, Flynn dramatically improved on his final two laps to clock in 15th in Pro and 24th overall in the 33-car field.

The opening race demonstrated the affects of tight competition on the streets, both starting and finishing under caution with a long yellow-flag stretch in between. Flynn managed to gain nine positions during the limited green-flag racing, taking 15th overall and 12th in Pro competition.

Sunday’s finale also had two lengthy cautions. An early incident for three-wide contact put the field behind the pace car for nearly half of the 40 minutes. Flynn was 16th at the restart, and moved up to 14th overall and 10th in class when a caution for a stopped car came out with 8:45 remaining. The green flag waved with 15 seconds remaining for a final lap of race, but Flynn was unable to improve his position.

“It was a ton of fun,” Flynn said of the experience. “I’ve loved watching them – especially St. Petersburg – so to be able to race the street course at Long Beach was a great opportunity. Hopefully, Porsche will do more street courses in the future.

“I had nothing too crazy, but every turn was kind of a close call,” Flynn added. “There was a ton of crashes, so I had to be cautious to avoid them and keep the car in one piece for the next race at Laguna Seca.

Next up for Irish Mike’s Racing will be Round 3 of the 2022 championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on April 29-May 1. The team will test at the circuit this week, and the team’s transporter will remain in California through the race weekend.

Burton, DEX Imaging Team Ready To Sling Some Dirt at Bristol

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Official Release
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Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team, along with their Cup Series peers, are set to spend the Easter weekend racing on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway.

For the second-straight year, the high-banked, half-mile oval has been covered with red clay for a series of events, including this weekend’s Food City Dirt Race for the Cup Series.

Although racing on dirt is uncommon nowadays for the elite NASCAR series, Brian Wilson, crew chief on the DEX Imaging Mustang, is looking forward to the experience.

“Bristol on dirt will be a fun and great challenge,” Wilson said. “Harrison is really excited, and I know the team is as well.”

Burton and Wilson both are rookies with no previous experience racing Cup cars on clay, and they will be competing with a Next Gen Mustang that hasn’t been raced on dirt. But Wilson said he and the team won’t be without the benefit of experience.

“With our teammates through the Penske alliance we have strong notes to build from with [Joey] Logano’s win last year,” Wilson said. “We’ll work to adapt those notes to the Next Gen car in our two practice sessions and heat race to be prepared for the main event on Sunday.”

One of the challenges of dirt racing is anticipating how the clay will change as the track, which is watered prior to the races, dries out.

Last year’s race – and the practices and qualifying races this year – will be run in the daytime, but Sunday’s main event isn’t scheduled to start until after 7 p.m.

That which means a good bit of the main event will be run after the sun goes down.

Wilson said that will figure into his strategy.

“We expect that the night race will help keep some moisture in the track as the race goes on,” he said. “Adapting to those changing conditions is what dirt-track racing is all about, so that’s where our focus has been this week.”

Two practice sessions are set for Friday afternoon, the first beginning at 4:05 Eastern Time and the second at 6:35. TV coverage is on FOX Sports 1.

The four 15-lap qualifying races, which will set the starting line-up for Sunday, are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Saturday and will air on FOX Sports 2.

The 250-lap main event is scheduled to get the green flag just after 7 p.m., with FOX carrying the broadcast.

Stage breaks are set for Laps 75 and 150.

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About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

John Hunter Nemechek – No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro Camping World Trucks Bristol Dirt Preview

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Official Release
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John Hunter Nemechek: Driver, No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt, Race 6 of 23, 150 Laps –40/50/60; 75 Miles
Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (half-mile dirt oval)
Date/Broadcast: Apr. 16, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Nemechek #Back4More in 2022:

After a fourth-place finish at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway last Thursday, John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 Mobil 1 team return to action Saturday night for the second running of the Pinty’ Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway. In last year’s inaugural event, Nemechek started on the pole before being relegated to a 39th-place finish after being caught up in a Stage Two incident.

Through the first five races of the 2022 season, Nemechek currently sits fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings, 44-points behind ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes in first. Nemechek leads NASCAR Tuck Series regulars with 85 laps led and is in a three way tie with Ben Rhodes and Zane Smith for most stage wins (three) this season. After finishing 20th or worse in the first three events of the season, the second-generation driver has responded with top-five finishes in each of the last two events.

The 24-year-old driver will be making his eighth career start on a dirt track in Camping World Truck series action. Nemechek has previously made five starts at Eldora (Ohio) Speedway, and one start each at Knoxville (Iowa) and Bristol Dirt. In his first seven starts, he has tallied 12 laps led, one top-five and four top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 14.1. His best result on dirt was a fifth-place finish at Eldora in 2017.

The Toyota Racing driver has been preparing for the Bristol Dirt race by testing a Midget and Micro Sprint at Millbridge Speedway, a 1/6-mile dirt track in Salisbury, N.C. Nemechek is scheduled to make his first Micro Sprint start Wednesday night at Millbridge.

The world’s leading synthetic motor oil, Mobil 1, will return as the primary sponsor of the No. 4 Tundra TRD Pro with a new look this weekend. The No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra will be switching from a matte black look to a matte white finish with the Mobil 1 pegasus returning to the side of the truck. Mobil 1 will continue the new paint scheme throughout the remainder of the 2022 season.

Nemechek is an 11-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports, and returning to victory lane in 2021 with KBM. Across 129 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, he has compiled three poles, 1,266 laps led, 42 top-five and 68 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.7.

Eric Phillips returned to lead the No. 4 team in 2022. His 41 career Truck Series victories make him the winningest crew chief in Truck Series history, with 32 of those coming while at KBM including five last year. Phillips led the No. 18 team at KBM in its debut season in 2010 and helped build the organization into one of the premier teams in all of NASCAR before departing at the end of the 2014 season. Under his guidance, the No. 18 team won eight races in its inaugural campaign and became the first team in Truck Series history to capture an owner’s championship in its first season of competition. In 2014, the Illinois native led the No. 51 team to an owner’s championship and his team’s 10 wins spearheaded KBM to a single-season Truck Series record of 14 wins. Phillip’s has been atop the box for just three NASCAR Truck Series starts on dirt. In those three starts, his driver’s have tallied one pole and 24 laps led for an average finish of 26.3.

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:
John Hunter Nemechek | Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Preview
Do you enjoy racing in the Truck Series on dirt?
“Yeah, it’s something different. Definitely something to adapt to. The trucks are heavy and don’t quite drive like a normal dirt car when you go to race on dirt so you have to drive them a little bit different but it’s been a fun experience, I feel like I’ve run decent on the dirt stuff so far. We had a decent showing at Bristol last year, had speed, but ended up getting taken out. Hopefully that doesn’t happen this year and hopefully we can run up front and be a contender.”

How do you approach the Bristol Dirt race?
“I think if it was a non-points race, you could say ‘whatever happens, happens’ but with it being a points race and part of the year I definitely think you have to take it serious. You have to go there and show up and do the best that you can, try to get as many stage points as possible, possibly play a little bit of strategy depending on tire wear and how the track changes. This year it’s going to be a night race rather than a day race so that’ll change some things. Just have to take it serious and go there and do the best we can every single week.”

You’ve been testing at Millbridge Speedway, is that more practice for the Truck Series dirt races or something that you wanted to do for fun?
“It’s something that I have wanted to do for some time, being able to go and drive a Midget and now in a Micro, so a little bit of both. I’ve tested both once so far and actually have a Micro race this week that I’m going to go run, but it’s something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. Christopher Bell and I have talked quite a bit about it, and (Kyle) Larson as well. They have been pushing me to get in one at some point and thankful for Toyota and TRD to let me hop behind the wheel of theirs and go enjoy some laps and hopefully that’ll get me better prepped for the dirt race at Bristol.”

John Hunter Nemechek Career Highlights:

  • Eleven-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports. Across 129 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled three poles, 1,266 laps led, 42 top-five and 68 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.7. Registered a career-high and series-leading five victories in 2021 and earned the NCWTS Regular Season championship and third in the final standings after qualifying for the Championship Four for the first time in his career.
  • Produced three top-10 finishes and an average result of 22.4 while competing for rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. He recorded a career-best eighth-place finish twice, both coming at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway
  • Across 59 career XFINITY Series starts, has totaled two wins, one pole, 510 laps led, 16 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.5.

John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro:

KBM-35: The No. 4 Mobil 1 team will unload KBM-35 for Saturday’s dirt race at Bristol. This Toyota has not raced since October of 2020. KBM-35 has one career win in 17 career starts, coming with Daniel Suarez at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway in 2016.
KBM-35 Performance Profile
KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected three wins, one pole, 478 laps led, eight top-five and 15 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.7 across 26 starts on dirt tracks. Martin Truex Jr. picked up the organization’s most recent victory on a dirt track in the inaugural Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway (2021). Bubba Wallace (2014) and Christopher Bell (2015) have each picked up a win at Eldora Speedway.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (92) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 19, Corey Heim became the 18th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 4 has 16 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.

HighPoint.com Racing: Chase Briscoe Bristol Dirt Advance

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Official Release
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CHASE BRISCOE
Bristol Dirt Advance
No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Food City Dirt Race (Round 9 of 36)
● Time/Date: 7 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 17
● Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: .533-mile dirt oval
● Laps/Miles: 250 laps / 133.25 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 75 laps / Stage 2: 75 laps / Final Stage: 100 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway for the second Food City Dirt Race as Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), returns to his roots. The third-generation dirt racer from Mitchell, Indiana, looks to capture his second win of the season in Sunday night’s 250-lap event. While Briscoe scored a 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series victory on Bristol’s traditional high-banked, concrete surface, he hopes to be the first to conquer the Last Great Colosseum in the NextGen car in the Cup Series’ only dirt race this weekend.

● Eight races into the 2022 season, Briscoe is 11th in the driver standings, 68 points out of first. He earned his most recent top-10 finish last Saturday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and currently holds a spot in the 16-driver playoff field by virtue of his win March 13 at Phoenix Raceway.

● In last year’s inaugural Food City Dirt Race, Briscoe finished 20th after battling in a few on-track skirmishes and dealing with poor visibility throughout the event. Though that particular race didn’t end as the 2021 Cup Series Rookie of the Year had hoped, he has found victory on dirt in a NASCAR premier series. Briscoe won the 2018 Eldora Dirt Derby in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at his team co-owner Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. He made two other Truck Series starts at Eldora and finished in the top-10 both times – third in 2017 and seventh in 2019.

● Briscoe cut his teeth racing on the dirt tracks of Southern Indiana, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. His first time behind the wheel of a racecar came in 2001 driving a quarter midget. He won his first heat race and then won the feature event later that evening. Briscoe moved on to mini sprints and, when he was 13, stepped into a 410 sprint car, in which he finished 10th in a 40-car field in his first race.

● In 2008, Briscoe made 37 starts in a 410 sprint car, racking up eight top-five finishes and 17 top-10s, including a win in the last race of the season at Paragon (Ind.) Speedway. With that win, he broke four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon’s record as the youngest to win a 410 sprint car race. Upon besting the NASCAR Hall of Famer’s record at the age of 13, Briscoe said, “It was pretty special to me to realize what I’d done, but I know I have to keep working. I don’t think about it a whole lot. I just go out every time like it’s just another race to try and win.”

● Briscoe made the transition to stock car racing at the age of 19, but he stuck to his roots by competing in a handful of dirt racing events each year, and he consistently added to the win column. In 2016, Briscoe competed in the Tulsa Shootout for Andy and Scott Bradley in the winged and non-winged mini sprint divisions. He won both features, picking up two of the event’s Golden Driller trophies to kick off a year that would see Briscoe earn six ARCA Racing Series wins en route to the series championship and Rookie of the Year honors. He also entered the Chili Bowl Nationals that same year driving a Haas Automation-branded car owned by his SHR teammate Cole Custer. Each year since 2015, Briscoe has competed in the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

● Chase’s grandfather Richard Briscoe is a legendary sprint car team owner, crew chief and car builder who over time has fielded entries for 37 different drivers, including such renowned wheelmen as Chuck Amati, Dave Blaney, Dick Gaines, Jack Hewitt, Steve Kinser and Rich Vogler. Chase’s father Kevin Briscoe raced sprint cars for more than 20 years and won more than 150 feature events. He claimed track championships at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana, and Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway five times, including one streak of three in a row.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Do you have any solid expectations for this weekend’s Food City Dirt Race based on last year’s race and returning this year in the NextGen car?

“I don’t really know what to expect, just because I’ve never driven a car that has this type of suspension on dirt. So how it drives on dirt and what you feel is probably totally different than what I’ve experienced. The other big component is the tires. The sidewall is so much shorter and stiffer than what we had before, from a side-bite and lateral grip standpoint. It’ll be totally different how the car reacts and the grip level that you have compared to anything I’ve raced. But we’ve got a couple of practices and heat races to figure it out.”

Last year we ran this race during the day and there were a lot of problems with track conditions that made for a tough race for a lot of guys. Do you think moving the race to the evening will make a big difference?

“I think it’ll definitely help. There’s a reason dirt racing happens at night. Track prep is really important and you for sure want the track to be close to what we need when we practice on Friday so that a lot doesn’t have to be worked from day to day. I think moving to later in the day will help with some of the problems we saw with a dusty track. But I think there are still some unknowns that don’t have a lot to do with time of day and things like that. This is just a different experience and there will be a lot of things we have to work through as they come up.”

No. 14 HighPoint.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe
Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: John Klausmeier
Hometown: Perry Hall, Maryland

Car Chief: J.D. Frey
Hometown: Ferndale, California

Engineer: Mike Cook
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen
Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Joey Campbell
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Daniel Coffey
Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Chris Jackson
Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Banks
Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola
Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams
Hometown: Naples, Florida

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Rob Fink
Hometown: Mocksville, North Carolina

GMS Racing NCWTS Bristol Dirt Preview

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Official Release
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Grant Enfinger, No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST
NCWTS Dirt Track Career Stats

  • Bristol Starts: 1, Best start: 8th, Best finish: 6th (2021), Top 10s: 1
  • Eldora Starts: 3, Best start: 9th, Best finish: 2nd (2018), Top 5s: 3, Top 10s: 3, Laps led: 1
  • Knoxville Starts: 1, Best start: 26th, Best finish: 3rd (2021), Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 1

2022 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 5, Best start: 7th, Best finish: 8th (Martinsville), Top 10s: 2, Laps led: 14, Current points position: 13th
  • About Champion Power Equipment: Since 2003 Champion Power Equipment has earned a reputation for designing and producing the market’s finest power equipment. From our original headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California, Champion has expanded its North American footprint to include facilities in Jackson, Tennessee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto Canada. Today, Champion’s product line has expanded to include portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, engines, winches and log splitters. With over 2.5 million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field. Visit ChampionPowerEquipment.com for more information.
  • Chassis History/Info: Grant Enfinger will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 315 in Thunder Valley. This chassis has been raced three times previously by three different drivers, and in its debut race at Eldora in 2019, it went to victory lane with Stewart Friesen behind the wheel. Last year, this truck was driven by Rafael Lessard at Bristol, as well as Jack Wood at Knoxville.
  • Dirt Dark Horse: Considering his stat numbers on dirt, Enfinger will certainly be one to look out for this weekend at Bristol. In five career truck starts across three different tracks, the driver of the No. 23 Chevrolet has finished in the top-10 in every single race, and has only finished outside of the top-5 once. In addition, Grant has won three times on the one mile flat tracks in ARCA competition, including back-to-back wins at Duquoin in 2014-2015 and once at Springfield in 2017.
  • Fan Facing Appearances: Fans will have the chance to meet GMS Racing drivers Grant Enfinger and Jack Wood in the Bristol Motor Speedway fan zone on two occasions, as the teammate duo will participate in a Q&A session at the Team Chevy stage from 1:00 PM – 1:15 PM on Saturday, followed by a stop at the Food City stage from 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM. – GE Quote: “I like when we take the Truck Series to the dirt. Our race at Bristol last year was a little different than what we had experienced with some of the past dirt races. Notably, tire wear was a big deal last year and we were mostly running the bottom. This year, we have a little harder tire and they’ve changed the track a little. I know Charles will have some adjustments built into our Champion Power Equipment Chevy for the changing conditions. I feel like our team is starting to click now, and Bristol is a great opportunity for us to contend for a win.”

Jack Wood, No. 24 ChevyLiners.com Chevrolet Silverado RST
NCWTS Dirt Track Career Stats

  • Jack Wood will make his first start at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track this weekend
  • Knoxville Starts: 1, Best start: 20th, Best finish: 39th (2021)

2022 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 5, Best start: 11th, Best finish: 13th (Atlanta), Current points position: 27th
  • About ChevyLiners.com: For ultimate interior protection, Premium All-Weather Floor Liners by Chevrolet Accessories are the solution. Offering precision coverage around interior trim, driver pedals, seat tracks, and door sills, they’re constructed of quality materials that provide optimum carpet and interior trim protection, isolating debris and moisture while remaining removable for cleaning. Visit www.ChevyLiners.com to order yours today.
  • Chassis History/Info: Jack Wood will race GMS Racing chassis no. 21 in the first dirt race of the season. This chassis debuted at Eldora in 2016, where NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson drove it to victory lane. Most recently, it was part of Sheldon Creed’s fleet during the 2021 season, racing at Bristol and Knoxville.
  • Seat Time: To help prepare for Saturday’s race at Bristol, Jack Wood participated in a dirt modified test at Friendship Speedway along with Petty GMS driver, Ty Dillon. This experience is crucial heading into the weekend, as Jack has only ever raced on dirt once in his career.
  • Sunoco ROTY Update: Despite getting swept up in an early crash resulting in a 35th place finish at Martinsville Speedway, Wood remains in third place for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings. Entering Bristol, he remains five points behind his nearest competitor and thirty points out of the lead.
  • Fan Facing Appearances: Fans will have the chance to meet GMS Racing drivers Jack Wood and Grant Enfinger in the Bristol Motor Speedway fan zone on two occasions, as the teammate duo will participate in a Q&A session at the Team Chevy stage from 1:00 PM – 1:15 PM on Saturday, followed by a stop at the Food City stage from 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
  • JW Quote: “I think that racing at Bristol on dirt is something that a lot of drivers dread because it’s not what they are used to. I only have one dirt race under my belt in last year’s race at Knoxville, but over the past twelve months I’ve had the opportunity to test some dirt modifieds and micro sprints, so I am looking forward to it. My No. 24 Chevy Liners team and I are going to stay open-minded all weekend and see what we can make of the opportunities ahead of us.”

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series operating the No. 23 and the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs, as well as the ARCA Menards Series with the No. 43 Chevrolet SS. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA Menards Series East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for Petty GMS, a two car full-time NASCAR Cup Series team formed in 2021.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 04.13.22

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Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: April 11-17, 2022

· NCS/NCWTS: Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Event – April 16-17

PLANO, Texas (April 13, 2022) – For the second straight season, the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are headed to Bristol to compete on the dirt.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NCWTS

Bell will be one to beat… Christopher Bell continues to move up the point standings with strong runs, and he will be one to beat on the dirt. The Oklahoma-native got his start competing for Toyota in dirt midgets for Keith Kunz Motorsports, winning the 2013 USAC National Midget Championship. Bell also won his first career NASCAR race on dirt, when he drove a Toyota Tundra to victory in the Truck Series at Eldora Speedway in 2015.

Truex looks to add Cup Series dirt win… Martin Truex Jr. ran both races on the Bristol dirt last season and came away with his first-ever Truck Series win as he drove the Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) No. 51 Tundra to victory lane. Truex also had a strong run in the Cup Series race on dirt, winning a stage and leading nearly half of the laps (126 of 253) before suffering a flat tire on the final restart.

Two Friesens at Bristol… For the second straight season, both Stewart and Jessica Friesen will compete against each other at Bristol Motor Speedway. The duo made history as the first married couple to qualify and race against each other in Truck Series history when Jessica qualified at Knoxville Raceway one season ago. Stewart will be looking for a big win in a milestone race for him with Toyota. It his 50th career start in a Tundra this weekend.

Kofoid to make debut… Toyota development driver Buddy Kofoid will make his NASCAR debut this weekend in the Truck Series race at Bristol. The California-native is the reigning USAC National Midget Champion, a title he is looking to repeat this season. He will be behind the No. 51 KBM Tundra that Truex wheeled to victory one season ago.

Toyota drivers off to a strong start… Reigning champion Ben Rhodes took over the points lead from fellow Toyota driver Chandler Smith at Martinsville last weekend, and it has been a stellar start to the season for Tundra drivers as they currently hold eight of the 10 Truck Series Playoff spots. Behind Rhodes and Smith sit Stewart Friesen (fourth), John Hunter Nemechek (fifth), Christian Eckes (sixth), Ty Majeski (eighth), Matt Crafton (ninth) and Tyler Ankrum (10th).

Stay Connected

https://www.toyota.com/racing @ToyotaRacing.com @ToyotaRacing

facebook.com/ToyotaRacing Camera With Flash on Apple iOS 11.3 ToyotaRacingMedia.com

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About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

CHASE ELLIOTT TABBED TO PILOT SPIRE MOTORSPORTS’ NO. 7 CHEVY SILVERADO AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

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Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (April 12, 2022) – Spire Motorsports announced today 2020 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Champion Chase Elliott will pilot the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado in Saturday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Elliott, a 13-time winner in NASCAR’s premier series, has made 16 NCWTS starts over his career, scoring victories at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (2013), Martinsville Speedway (2017) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (2020). All totaled, the Dawsonville, Ga., native has led 412 laps, logged three poles, three wins, 11 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in Truck Series competition.

The Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt will mark Elliott’s first NCWTS start of 2022. His most recent came last June at Texas Motor Speedway where he started 22nd, led 45 laps and brought home a runner-up finish.

HendrickCars.com will serve as the effort’s primary sponsor while NAPA AUTO PARTS, Elliott’s NCS majority partner, will be prominently displayed as an associate sponsor on the machine’s decklid and lower-rear quarter panels.

The event will mark the second consecutive season NASCAR and Bristol Motor Speedway have collaborated to transform the legendary half-mile Tennessee oval from pavement to dirt, creating one of the most talked about racing experiences on the 2022 calendar for the drivers, teams and fans.

“Driving the No. 7 Chevy Silverado at Bristol this weekend is definitely something I’m looking forward to,” said Elliott. “These trucks always look like a lot of fun to race on dirt, and this team has had some great runs this year and put together a solid program in a short amount of time. I’m excited to see what we can go out there and do on Saturday night.”

Elliott, 26, is the full-time driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports in the NCS and an eight-year veteran of NASCAR’s premier series with 229 starts on his résumé.

In eight NCS races this season, Elliott has notched one pole, one top five, five top 10s and currently leads the NCS championship points. Despite being a veteran of 229 NCS starts, Saturday’s 150-lap NCWTS showcase will mark just his 17th race at the controls of a Truck Series entry.

“The opportunity to have a talent the caliber of Chase Elliott, a NASCAR Cup Series champion, drive for Spire Motorsports at Bristol Motor Speedway, is an incredible opportunity for our NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team,” explained Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “Chase is a generational talent and someone who can win anytime he gets behind the wheel of a race car. He’s won at every level of the sport and we’re exceptionally fortunate and appreciative that he’s agreed to drive our truck.”

Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports’ teammate William Byron handled the driving chores for Spire Motorsports in last Thursday’s Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 200 at Martinsville Speedway. After starting deep in the field, Byron made a steady climb up the leaderboard throughout the evening and earned a dominating victory. The win was the first NCWTS win for Spire Motorsports in just its third race in the division.

The Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt from Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, April 16 beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About HendrickCars.com…
HendrickCars.com is the easiest way to shop thousands of new and pre-owned cars, trucks and SUVs. Customers can use the site to locate the nearest Hendrick Automotive Group dealership, schedule maintenance and learn about Hendrick Autoguard, the company’s industry-leading vehicle protection program. Visitors can also learn about career opportunities at Hendrick Automotive Group, which is currently in need of more than 350 service technicians.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports was established in 2018 and is co-owned by Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2022, Spire Motorsports will field two full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries. Corey LaJoie will drive the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in NASCAR’s premier series for the entire 2022 campaign while Josh Bilicki and Landon Cassill will split time in the team’s No. 77 entry. The team will also field a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team in select events.

Spire Motorsports earned an upset victory for the ages in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019.

KRIS WRIGHT: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes: Bristol Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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KRIS WRIGHT
No. 44 Big Dog Energy Chevrolet Silverado
NEW PARTNER: BIG DOG ENERGY
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes

Event: Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2022
Venue: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway
Location: Bristol, Tennessee
Track Description: .5-mile(s) / DIRT
Race: 150 laps / 75 miles

Niece Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History … Since entering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) in 2016, the Mooresville, N.C.,-based organization has logged 301 starts with 40 drivers, including NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) drivers Trevor Bayne, Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson. Niece Motorsports has collected three victories (Ross Chastain, 2019: Kansas, Gateway and Pocono), 19 top-five finishes and 56 top-10 finishes, and has logged an average starting position of 19.5 and an average finishing position of 19.0.

NIECE MOTORSPORTS STATISTICS

Niece Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History on the Dirt at the Bristol Motor Speedway … This weekend will mark Niece Motorsports’ fifth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt configuration. For this dirt race, the dirt is banked 19 degrees, with a racing surface about 50 feet wide. The organization posted a team best 20th-place finish at the track on March 29, 2021 with driver Ryan Truex. The four previous starts at the Bristol Motor Speedway, nicknamed the Last Great Coliseum, have earned Niece Motorsports an overall average starting position of 15.8 and an average finish of 25.0.

Catch the Action … The Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at the Bristol Motor Speedway will be broadcast live on FS1 on Saturday, April 16, starting with NASCAR RaceDay: NCWTS Bristol at 7:00 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 7:30 p.m. (ET). On Friday, April 15, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice will air at 3:00 p.m. (ET), with final practice at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on FS1. Qualifying for the sixth event of the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule will air on Friday at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on FS2.

Kris Wright
No. 44 Big Dog Energy Chevrolet Silverado

WELCOME BIG DOG ENERGY … Big Dog Energy, a family-owned natural gas company, has partnered with Kris Wright, driver of the Niece Motorsports No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado, for multiple NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events including the Bristol Motor Speedway, at the Kansas Speedway on September 9, and at the Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on November 4. The partnership with Wright will commence with this weekend’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series doubleheader with the NASCAR Cup Series, replete with heat races to set the starting lineups. For more information on Big Dog Energy, LLC, headquartered in Wexford, Pa., visit Instagram (@bigdogenergyllc).

The Bullring Facts … This weekend marks Kris Wright’s debut Bristol Motor Speedway dirt configuration appearance with
the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The 27-year-old has two previous starts at the Bristol Motor Speedway, in the
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on September 16, 2021, and in the ARCA Menards Series East on September 17,
2020.

Dirt Track Stats: This weekend marks Kris Wright’s dirt track debut with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The Wexford, Pa., -native has limited experience on dirt. Wright has three INEX U.S. Legend Cars International starts on
the dirt tracks of Moler Raceway Park, located in Williamsburg, Ohio, and Brushcreek Motorsports Complex, in Peebles,
Ohio. Of those INEX U.S. Legend Cars International events, he captured two heat race victories as well as a second-place
finish and fourth-place finish.

KRIS WRIGHT STATISTICS

In the Rearview Mirror: Martinsville Speedway … Kris Wright, driver of the No. 44 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports, finished in the 30th-place in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Blu-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 200 on Thursday, April 7, at the Martinsville Speedway, located in Ridgeway, Va. Wright started in the 14th-place in the 36-truck field. Rain washed out practice and qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at the Martinsville Speedway on Thursday afternoon. The lineup was set by the NASCAR rulebook, which is the same metric formula used much of last season: 25% weighted from where the driver finished in the previous race (in this case, COTA), 25% truck owner’s finishing position, 35% owner points ranking and 15% fastest lap from the last race. On Lap 8, Wright was involved in an incident on the frontstretch which resulted in the first of 11 cautions. At the end of Stage 1 on Lap 50 he was in the 19th-place. The Niece Motorsports team received a penalty for an uncontrolled tire on Lap 54. By the end of Stage 2 on Lap 100, Wright was scored in the 25th-place. He was involved in an incident in Turn 4 on Lap 122. Wright was scored as high as the 13th-place at the Martinsville Speedway.

QUOTE WORTHY Kris Wright, driver of the No. 44 Big Dog Energy Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports
On the Bristol Motor Speedway:
“I am really excited to get to go dirt racing at the Bristol Motor Speedway. I feel like dirt can be a great equalizer for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Coming off a few dirt races, I am feeling confident. “It is great to have Big Dog Energy on-board with us this weekend.”

Kris Wright on Social Media … To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit KrisWrightMotorsports.com or connect with Kris Wright on Facebook (/KrisWrightRacing), Twitter (@KrisOnNASCAR) or Instagram (@krisonnascar).

Bookending the Formula One Season, Middle East has become a Key Player in Motorsports

By
SM
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Photo by Hanson Lu on Unsplash

While most of the sporting headlines concerning the Middle East circle around the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, for over a decade, the region has transformed itself into a major player in international motorsports. Most notably, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates are all now key features of the Formula One calendar.

Last year, in what has mostly been a lap of honor type of race in recent seasons, the race in Abu Dhabi crowned a new champion, with Max Verstappen winning the Grand Prix and his maiden Drivers’ World Championship. Not only is the region hosting major events, but the sports themselves are gaining traction, too, ensuring that exotic destinations on sporting calendars aren’t merely for overseas fans.

Of course, Formula One isn’t the Middle East’s only stake in the world of motorsport or the world of sport at large. With money being pumped into venues, hosting rights deals, and grassroots competitions, the region has certainly muscled its way into the upper echelons of motorsport.

A flurry of motorsports in the Middle East

There’s far more to the Middle East’s motorsports scene than Formula One – even if the premier racing event is its most valuable import in this sector. Still, there’s certainly a great deal of hyper generated around the Middle East Rally Championship each year. First held in 1984, the tournament takes place across the nations of the Middle East. While the UAE’s Mohammed bin Sulayem once reigned supreme, Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah now rules the record books, most recently racing in a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.

Bahrain, relatively small as it is, has crafted itself into a home for motorsports. Famed for bringing Formula One to the region, it has also hosted several other events since the mid-00s. These include the GP2 Series, Desert 400, Formula 2, and endurance runs like the Gulf 12 Hours. Over in Kuwait, you’ll find the annual Kuwait International Rally and can visit Kuwait Motor Town. Pop over to Iran, and the Shiraz Rally has earned its place in the Middle East Rally Championship, with the races themselves taking place in Persepolis.

Along with the impending FIFA World Cup, Qatar has also made a name for itself in motorcycle racing. At Losail, Qatar hosts the debut race of each MotoGP campaign, as well as Moto2 and Moto3 events. Saudi Arabia and the UAE also have a hefty motorsport presence. The Diriyah ePrix in Formula E and the off-road racing series Extreme E take place in The Kingdom, while the UAE has Dubai 24 Hour, F4 UAE Championship, TCR Middle East Touring Car Series, the UAE Sportbike Championship, and Dubai Motor City.

Such a massive range of motorsports events has truly bolstered the region’s standing on international circuits, but the influx has also promoted the sports among locals, too. Now, the most popular sports in the Arabic world feature the likes of Formula One alongside horse racing, camel racing, boxing, and cricket. The interest in the sport has coincided with the growing popularity of sports betting in this region, and as a result, the number of bookmakers offering odds on these markets has also increased. With betting options greater than ever, there are dedicated sites that review betting platforms and list the best based on a number of factors. Motorsports had little imprint just a couple of decades ago. Now, fans in the region can bet on events that come from the global stage as well as some of the more local and regional competitions.

The rise of motorsports in the Middle East

The Middle East has overseen absurdly rapid development over the last few decades as the riches from natural resources have been put to modernizing regional hubs. If one state had to be pointed to as the pioneer or catalyst for such an influx of motorsports, though, it’d have to be Bahrain. First held in 2004, the Bahrain Grand Prix in Formula One broke new ground, and by 2008, experts were talking about the Middle East and its pivotal role in the future of the motorsports industry.

Rally racing has picked up a lot of steam over the years in the region, with many of today’s top competitors from the Middle East citing desert rallies as their gateway into the sport. In the past, there has been a divide between the talents of the countries getting top-class grassroots development and funding to push further, but there appears to be a more concerted effort to build now, particularly in Bahrain. Now, the nation’s motorsport calendar puts a heavy emphasis on grassroots competition as well as drag racing.

Since Bahrain entered the Formula One scene, both the UAE and, most recently, Saudi Arabia have joined the fold. The three combine to bookend the 2022 schedule, with Bahrain opening and Abu Dhabi closing. This won’t be all, though, as Qatar looks to become the region’s fourth regular host on the Formula One calendar. The Qatar GP was quickly shuffled into the 2021 deck, will miss 2022, but will then rejoin in 2023 on a new ten-year deal, with the race taking place at night.

Beyond the realms of Formula One racing, the Middle East has developed and is now cultivating a bubbling motorsports scene, filled with passionate fans and increasingly prominent talent.

What’s the Difference Between a Chauffeur and a Driver?

By
SM
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Photo by Jackson David on Unsplash

You’re probably familiar with their similar job descriptions if you’ve ever hired a chauffeur or a driver. However, they have many differences, particularly regarding duties and responsibilities. Knowing the distinction between them can help you choose the right service for your needs.

In a world where every hour is precious, being able to book a chauffeur on demand can be a huge advantage for you. 

What is a Driver?

A driver is someone who drives you around in their vehicle. This could be a friend or family member or a hired private driver like an Uber or Lyft driver. They may use an app to locate passengers. You can often catch rides with other passengers going in the same direction to save money.

What are the Driver’s Duties and Responsibilities?

Most people looking for a driver or chauffeur have an idea of what they want — someone to drive them wherever they need to go, take care of their household when they’re not around, and generally help out.

The truth is that there are some things that only a driver will do or be able to do. These include the following:

1. Maintain insurance, license, and car registration.
2. Implement safety policies such as seatbelts and child restraints.
3. Deliver and return messages or packages.
4. Perform other duties the passenger requests (such as making restaurant reservations, booking travel arrangements, or even picking up dry cleaning).

What is a Chauffeur?

A chauffeur is someone who drives you around in their vehicle and works for a specific company. Hiring a chauffeur over a driver would mean they are more vetted, professional, and have access to business amenities such as wifi, chargers, and more. Commonly, these individuals will work for a chauffeured transportation service, where any car you schedule or reserve will come standard with a chauffeur.

A chauffeur, much like those you might find with a premier town car service in Orlando Florida, drives you around in their vehicle and works for a specific company.

While some might operate independently, a service such as this can offer assurances if you have any issues with your service.

What are the Chauffeur’s Duties and Responsibilities?

Chauffeurs generally work long hours because they’re expected to be available at all times of the day. Here are some of the key responsibilities a chauffeur performs on the job:

1. Carrying luggage, holding doors, serving beverages, and providing other services to their clients and passengers as needed.
2. Responsible for doing the vehicle’s general maintenance, such as refilling gas and checking tire pressure and fluid levels.
3. Observing safety in driving to ensure the passenger’s safety and comfort during traveling.
4. Parking cars and other vehicles in their clients’ businesses and houses.
5. Staying in touch with dispatch managers to check if all tasks were done timely and properly.
6. Keep their clients on track with their ride status.
7. Offering service to their clients by answering queries about restaurants, sceneries along the way, locations, and more.
8. Picking up their clients from specific areas and taking them to their destination in a chauffeur-driven vehicle.

What are the Main Differences between a Driver and a Chauffeur?

There are many differences between a driver and a chauffeur. The type and quality of service and training are some of them.

Offered Types of Services 

Chauffeurs can guarantee style and elegance. Clients can pick from executive vans, luxury sedans, and limousines. Most of them are fitted with amenities like a fridge, television, ergonomic seats, and more, making a normal ride into a luxurious one. 

If you’re seeking the finest limo services, consider exploring Houston Limo Service. They prioritize your comfort with professionalism.

Not only that but chauffeurs also clean and restock the vehicle after the service to ensure the van is spotless and complete with everything their passengers might need. You won’t find these services in a driver or ride-sharing service.

Experience and Training

There are no certain educational requirements to become a chauffeur or driver. However, becoming a chauffeur needs to have a proven experience of being a careful driver with remarkable people skills and a spotless criminal record.

This means they have to go through extensive training to ensure they are qualified to be one, as mentioned above, in their duties and responsibilities.

Service Quality

Everyone with a vehicle and a valid license can be a driver because a driver’s common duty is to take from a specific location to another.

On the other hand, chauffeurs are very well trained with services beyond mere transportation. To them, passengers come first and ensure to render the best service. These include: 

1. Ensuring the ride is stress-free and comfortable for their passengers.
2. Providing passengers with personalized service with amenities such as music, drinks, and more.

Wrapping Up

Most people don’t notice a distinction, but several key differences exist. For one, a chauffeur is typically someone who has undergone more training and has more experience behind the wheel. They’re also usually better dressed and more professional in demeanor.

If you desire an extra level of luxury and professionalism, hiring a chauffeur may be the right choice. They can help make your special day or event even more memorable.

References
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-chauffeur
https://climbtheladder.com/chauffeur/
https://www.betterteam.com/company-driver-job-description
https://www.303luxurycarservice.com/the-difference-between-a-driver-and-a-chauffeur

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