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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

Grala joins Big Machine Racing for upcoming Xfinity events at Talladega and Dover

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images.

Big Machine Racing announced that Kaz Grala will be driving the No. 48 Big Machine SPIKED Coolers Chevrolet Camaro for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series events at Talladega Superspeedway and at Dover Motor Speedway in late April.

Grala, a 23-year-old native from Boston, Massachusetts, will be filling in Big Machine Racing’s single-car entry in place of Jade Buford, the team’s lone competitor, as he becomes the third competitor to campaign in a single event for Big Machine Racing, which debuted in NASCAR as a full-time Xfinity team in 2021 before being technically aligned with Richard Childress Racing for this season.

Currently, Big Machine Racing has achieved two top-10 career results in the Xfinity circuit, which includes a ninth-place results at Michigan International Speedway in August 2021 and an eighth-place result at Circuit of the Americas this past March, both made by Buford.

“We’ve made a very serious commitment to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, including our strategic partnership with RCR,” Scott Borchetta, team owner of Big Machine Racing, said. “[At] this time we need to evaluate all aspects of the team as I am determined to run up front.”

The two-race deal with Big Machine Racing adds more seat time for Grala this season, who has made three Xfinity starts for Alpha Prime Racing. He is also campaigning on the part-time basis in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Young’s Motorsports and in the NASCAR Cup Series for the newly-formed Money Team Racing.

Currently, Grala has made 81 career starts in NASCAR’s top three national touring series (Camping World Truck, Xfinity and Cup). He has achieved a single victory, which occurred during the 2017 Truck Series’ season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway from pole position while he was competing for GMS Racing as he became the youngest competitor to achieve a pole and race victory at Daytona.

Through 37 previous starts in the Xfinity Series, Grala has achieved four top-five results and nine top-10 results, with his best on-track result being a pair of fourth-place finishes at Daytona in February 2018 and at Road America in August 2020.

Grala is scheduled to make his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start with Big Machine Racing at Talladega Superspeedway on April 23 with the event’s coverage to occur at 4 p.m. ET on FOX. He will back it up with his second start with the team at Dover Motor Speedway on April 30 with the event’s coverage to occur at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

Chandler Smith – No. 18 Charge Me Tundra TRD Pro Camping World Trucks Bristol Dirt Preview

By
Official Release
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Chandler Smith: Driver, No. 18 Charge Me 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: April 16, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Mr. Smith Goes Dirt Racing:
Chandler Smith will debut a brand new primary sponsor, Charge Me, for the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday. Charge Me was founded on the principle that the electric vehicle (EV) revolution will require robust infrastructure support at all levels. To encourage this transition towards a clean energy future, Charge Me is launching a diverse product range of EV charging solutions. Charge Me has developed off-grid multi-use portable charging systems for both EV roadside assistance as well as stationary on-site power generation. In addition to Saturday’s race at Bristol, Charge Me will adorn Smith’s No. 18 TRD Pro for four more races: Kansas Speedway in Kansas City (May 14), Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway (June 18), Pocono (Pa.) Raceway (July 23) and Richmond (Va.) Raceway (Aug. 13).

Smith has had a strong start to 2022, finishing inside the top 10 in each of the last four events including his victory earlier in the year at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway. The 19-year-old driver sits second in the regular season point standings, just four tallies behind reigning series champion Ben Rhodes. Through the first five events of the season Smith leads Truck Series regulars in average starting position (4.6), average running position (7.142) and average finish (7.4) while ranking second in driver rating (107.5).

The Toyota Racing Development product had mixed results in two starts on dirt last season. At Bristol, he drove from 21st to 11th early in the race, but after multiple incidents was relegated to a 34th-place finish. At Knoxville, Smith was out front for 72 laps late in the race, but as a demolition derby broke out in the closing laps and into overtime, he was unable to hold off Austin Hill and finished second.

KBM has won three of the nine events that the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has held at dirt tracks. Bubba Wallace (2014) and Christopher Bell (2015) were victorious at famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, while Martin Truex Jr. was triumphant in last year’s inaugural race on the dirt at Bristol.

The Tundra TRD Pro that Smith will get behind the wheel of on Saturday, KBM-52, is the same chassis that he picked up his first career Truck Series victory with on the concrete at Bristol last September.

The Georgia driver earned NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and finished eighth in the championship standings after producing two victories, one pole, 213 laps led, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in his first full-time season. He earned his first career Truck Series victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September and in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway earned his first career pole and swept all three stages en route to his second victory.

Veteran crew chief Danny Stockman will once again call the shots for Smith and the No. 18 team in 2022. Stockman’s drivers have produced six victories at KBM across his first two seasons, including two with Smith behind the wheel in 2021. The veteran crew chief captured a Truck Series championship with Austin Dillon in 2011 and also won an Xfinity Series championship with Dillon in 2013. Stockman’s drivers have collected two top-five finishes racing on dirt tracks in the Truck Series, with his best result Smith’s runner-up finish at Knoxville last year.

Safelite, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration services will serve as an associate sponsor on the bedtop of Smith’s Toyota this week and for 16 races as a primary sponsor throughout the 2022 season.

Chandler Smith, Driver Q&A:

Are you looking forward to going back race on dirt at Bristol?
“We had a lot of speed at the Bristol dirt race last year but got taken out early on and didn’t get to showcase what we were made of. This is going to be the first race for Charge Me being the primary sponsor of the truck. It’s going to be really exciting for them to be on my truck for Bristol dirt as it’s a good track for myself.”
What’s been the key to having four straight top-10 finishes?
“It’s being consistent and staying out of trouble. Danny (Stockman, crew chief) and everybody at KBM has been bringing me really fast Tundras every single weekend to work with. It’s just a matter of being at the right place at the right time and staying out of trouble.”

Are you excited to have Charge Me as a new primary sponsor this week?
“We have a few races lined up with them this year – it’s really exciting. They are a really great company and have a lot of good things coming as a company and getting involved in the NASCAR world. I’m really excited to be a little part of their journey.”

Chandler Smith Career Highlights:

  • Across 43 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts has recorded three wins, 362 laps led, 17 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 14.0.
  • Earned NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and finished eighth in the championship standings after producing two victories, one pole, 213 laps led, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in his first full-time season. He earned his first career Truck Series victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September and in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway earned his first career pole and swept all three stages en route to his second victory.
  • Led 55 laps and finished eighth in his Camping World Truck Series debut at Iowa Speedway in July of 2019. Drove a limited schedule for KBM in 2019 (four races) and 2020 (12 races), before going full-time in 2021.
  • Has collected nine wins, 10 poles, 1783 laps led, 22 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes en route to an average finish of 5.4 across 34 career ARCA Menards Series starts.
  • Has numerous Super Late Model victories across his career, including two marquee wins: the Snowball Derby at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. (2021) and SpeedFest at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Georgia (2018). Will compete in several Super Late Model events around his Truck Series schedule in 2022.

Chandler Smith’s No. 18 Charge Me Tundra:

KBM-52: The No. 18 Charge Me team will unload KBM-52 for Saturday’s race at the Bristol Dirt Track. It is the same Toyota that Smith picked up his first career Truck Series victory with last September on the concrete track at Bristol. The win was the first for KBM-52 across its 12 career starts, prior to that the best result for that chassis was a runner-up finish with Kyle Busch in its debut at Kansas Speedway in 2018.

KBM-52 Performance Profile
KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers has scored 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 career starts on dirt tracks. Martin Truex Jr. won the inaugural race on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2021, while Bubba Wallace (2014) and Christopher Bell (2015) each scored victories 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 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. 18, the number which was on the first Tundra that went to victory lane for KBM in 2010, has 24 career victories.

Smith Continues to Shine Heading Into Bristol Dirt Race

By
Official Release
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Looking For Third Win with Speedco

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 12, 2022) – Zane Smith is ready to play in the dirt this weekend, driving the No. 38 Speedco Ford F-150 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. The track marks the first of two dirt races on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule.

Smith enters this weekend’s race at Bristol sitting third in the driver standings and is the only driver with two wins through five races this season. Smith’s two wins have come at the season opener in Daytona and the road course at the Circuit of the Americas. Both races have had the Love’s and Speedco brands as primary partners, a streak he hopes to keep going this weekend.

“I feel great heading into Bristol this weekend,” Smith stated. “I ran well there last year, finished in the top-10. I know this No. 38 team also had a good weekend, so I feel this is the perfect combination for a good weekend.”

Smith is also excited to have Speedco back on board for this weekend’s race, hoping to put their brand back in Victory Lane.

“Every time we have had this truck in Victory Lane this year, it’s been with the Love’s/Speedco brand on the hood,” Smith said. “Hopefully this weekend at Bristol we can keep the streak going and make it three for three.”

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol will air live on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET on FS1.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

McDowell Ready to Build on Strong Dirt Run Last Season

By
Official Release
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Love’s Ford Driver Finished 12th in 2021

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 12, 2022) – Michael McDowell and his No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Mustang team head to the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway this weekend for NASCAR’s only NASCAR Cup Series dirt race on the schedule.

The 2021 Daytona 500 champion, who had success last year at the Bristol dirt track in the iRacing Pro Invitational and in the real event, is ready to head back to the site where he finished 10th and 12th, respectively.

“Racing on the dirt in general is still something relatively new to a lot of us,” says McDowell. “Even though we have had one go of it last year, it is still fun to do something a little out of our normal comfort zone, and wheel these cars around what would otherwise be an asphalt track.

“Bristol in and of itself is a challenge, but with dirt added, it adds a layer of complexity to the race. While we take it all in stride and tune to the conditions, we won’t really know what will happen until we get to the track and see how the surface takes the dirt. It will be fun, and I’m excited to duplicate our success with our Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang this weekend.”

Michael McDowell and his No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang this weekend will race on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway this Sunday, April 17th, at 7 p.m. ET on FOX.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Gilliland Ready for Cup Series Dirt Debut

By
Official Release
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First Phase Returns to the 38 Team

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 12, 2022) – Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 FirstPhaseCard.com Ford Mustang, will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at the “Last Great Colosseum”, the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway this Sunday night.

The Cup Series rookie last took to the Bristol dirt in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series where he earned a fourth-place finish. Gilliland looks for another solid weekend, excited for the challenge ahead.

“I actually really enjoyed the dirt races when they came around on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule,” Gilliland stated. “We finished fourth here last year in the truck, and I’m optimistic with how this new car will run. I look at this as an opportunity for us to capitalize and take advantage when the field is on an equal setting. I’m pumped for it.”

Gilliland comes back to the track with the anchor partner of the No. 38 program, First Phase. The new credit card from CURO Credit, LLC, issued by The Bank of Missouri is back for its second race of the season after making its debut earlier this season at the Clash at the Coliseum and the Daytona 500. The product provides pathways to financial freedom for people with unestablished or imperfect credit.

Gilliland is ready for another good race with First Phase.

“It’s cool to have First Phase credit card back as the primary partner this weekend in such a big event,” said Gilliland. “This is a new card and we’re trying to get more and more people to learn about the First Phase credit card and see if it’s perfect for them. For me, I love the car. It’s sharp and it will look cool under the lights this Easter Sunday.”

ABOUT CURO

CURO Group Holdings Corp. (NYSE: CURO) is a full-spectrum consumer credit provider across the U.S. and Canada. The Company was founded in 1997 by three childhood friends in Kansas to meet the growing consumer need for short-term loans. Today, CURO operates a robust, omni-channel platform providing comprehensive credit solutions to help customers achieve their financial goals. CURO’s decades of experience with alternative data power the underwriting and scoring engine, mitigating risk across the full spectrum of credit products. CURO operates under a number of brands including Speedy Cash®, Rapid Cash®, Cash Money®, LendDirect®, Flexiti®, Avío Credit®, Opt+®, Revolve Finance®, Heights Finance, Southern Finance, Covington Credit, Quick Credit and First Phase. Our diversified product channels allows us to meet the changing needs and preferences of our customers.

ABOUT FIRST PHASE

First Phase is a new credit card issued by The Bank of Missouri that provides pathways to financial freedom for people with unestablished or imperfect credit. It’s a powerful tool that can provide flexibility and help fuel the next chapter of their financial future. First Phase is the doing business assumed name of CURO Credit, LLC, whose ultimate parent company is CURO Group Holdings Corp (NYSE: CURO).

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Chris Buescher – Bristol Dirt Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @RFK17Team, @RFKRacing and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 125.5 miles, 250 laps, Stages: 75-75-100

First Practice – Friday, April 15 at 4:05 p.m. ET on FS1
Final Practice – Friday, April 15 at 6:35 p.m. ET on FS1
Heat Races – Saturday, April 16 at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
Feature Race – Sunday, April 17 at 7 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· Heat races return for this weekend’s dirt racing, with a random draw set to determine Saturday’s heat race starting lineups.

· Passing and finishing points from each heat race will determine lineups for Sunday night’s feature race. Drivers will receive one point for each spot improved in their respective heat, with finishing points on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.

Buescher at Bristol Motor Speedway

· Last season Buescher finished 14th in the No. 17 in the inaugural Bristol Dirt event after starting from the 11th spot.

· Overall at BMS, Buescher has two top-10s with a career-best fifth-place run back in the 2013 fall race. He most recently ran eighth in the fall of 2020.

· He also made five Xfinity starts at BMS with three top-10s, including a best effort of third in 2015.

Scott Graves at Bristol Motor Speedway

· Graves is coming off an impressive year one at the Bristol Dirt race, where he led Ryan Newman to a fifth-place run in 2021, which stands as his best finish at Bristol in his Cup career.

· Graves otherwise has one top-10 – a P9 – in the 2019 spring race, and five top-15s overall.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Bristol:
“Bristol weekend is always exciting for me as it stands as my favorite track and is always a blast. Putting dirt on it makes it that much more challenging, but hopefully in our case makes it more fun. We’re looking forward to a full weekend to continue our grind in the Fastenal Ford.”

Last Time Out
Buescher drove his Fastenal Ford to a 15th-place run at Martinsville last Saturday night after a career-best qualifying effort of fourth.

On the Car

Fastenal, in its 12th season with RFK in 2022, makes its sixth appearance with the No. 17 this weekend. In its early days with RFK, Fastenal originally was a partner with the No. 99 team before moving over to the No. 17 team since. They were also the primary partner on the No. 60 Xfinity Series entry that captured the owner’s championship in 2011.

Fastenal will feature top suppliers Kimberly Clark Pro, CRC Industries, Sqwincher / Kent Precision, Duracell Industrial Operations and Bosch Tool on Buescher’s Mustang as he competes this weekend. For more information on these suppliers, visit Fastenal.com, and stay up-do-date on social @FastenalCompany.

About Fastenal
Fastenal [Nasdaq: FAST] is North America’s largest fastener distributor and a ‘one-stop’ source for hundreds of thousands of OEM, MRO and Construction products. With more than 2,600 stores worldwide, the company supports B2B customers with tailored local inventory and dedicated personnel, who visit regularly, quickly respond to emergency needs, and provide efficient inventory management solutions. Fastenal’s service-oriented business network includes the world’s largest industrial vending program, 14 regional distribution centers, 8 custom manufacturing facilities, thousands of delivery vehicles, and industry-leading sourcing, quality and engineering resources.

Brad Keselowski – Bristol Dirt Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Josh Sell
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski
Race Format: 125.5 miles, 250 laps, Stages: 75-75-100

First Practice – Friday, April 15 at 4:05 p.m. ET on FS1
Final Practice – Friday, April 15 at 6:35 p.m. ET on FS1
Heat Races – Saturday, April 16 at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
Feature Race – Sunday, April 17 at 7 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· Heat races return for this weekend’s dirt racing, with a random draw set to determine Saturday’s heat race starting lineups.

· Passing and finishing points from each heat race will determine lineups for Sunday night’s feature race. Drivers will receive one point for each spot improved in their respective heat, with finishing points on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.

Keselowski at Bristol Motor Speedway

· In last year’s inaugural dirt race at Bristol, Keselowski finished 11th after starting 20th.

· Overall at Bristol Motor Speedway, Keselowski has three wins in 23 starts with a 16.8 average finish. He’s finished top-10 in eight of those races, six of which were in the top five.

· He most recently won the 2020 spring race after starting from the pole, and also won back-to-back races in the 2011 fall event and 2012 spring race.

· Dating back the last four races on the concrete at Bristol, Keselowski has three finishes of sixth or better. Separately, he’s led laps in 13 different Bristol events for 904 overall, his second-best effort among all tracks.

· Keselowski also made 14 Xfinity starts at Bristol with one win and eight top-10s, and seven Truck starts with one win and three top-10s.

Josh Sell at Bristol Motor Speedway

· Sell will be on the box for his fourth race as fill-in crew chief, as Matt McCall is set to return next weekend at Talladega.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Bristol:
“This will be yet another interesting weekend with still a lot of unknowns as to how the track will be, how these Next Gen cars will manage, and how teams react to all those factors. Last year was all over the place with how the weather affected our weekend, so hoping for a good weekend in that area. We’re going to give it our best shot, and glad to have Solomon Plumbing on the car with us for their first race.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski finished 17th last Saturday night at Martinsville in a race dominated by green-flag conditions.

On the Car

Solomon Plumbing makes its debut with RFK Racing this weekend on the Bristol Dirt as the primary for Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford. The Michigan-based company specializes in plumbing and fire services for new development, construction and complete remodeling.

About Solomon Plumbing
We specialize in plumbing and fire services for new development, construction and complete remodeling. We are the developer’s choice to provide turn-key plumbing and fire solutions from start to finish. This includes multi-unit housing, high rise buildings and complete residential developments. We are committed to fulfilling your plumbing and fire needs with honesty and integrity, exceeding your expectations for service, quality, and value.

Solomon Plumbing has been developing long term business relationships across the United States with a strong reputation for high quality craftsmanship and service commitment. Contact us today to discuss your next project.

Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | Bristol Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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Food City Dirt Race
Bristol Motor Speedway
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, April 17 at 7 p.m. ET on FOX

Noah Gragson, No. 16 Chevy Truck Month Camaro ZL1

  • Gragson has made two starts in the NCS, both in 2022
  • Gragson made two dirt-racing starts at Eldora Speedway (2017 and 2018) in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) and finished in the top 10 in both events

“I’m really looking forward to racing at Bristol this weekend in our No. 16 Chevy Truck Month Camaro. There are a few unknowns going into the weekend with the new car, but I think with practice and the heat races, that will give us a good amount of track time to get a feel for everything. Our goal is to keep the car in one piece for the whole race and be there at the end.” – Noah Gragson

Crew Chief, Matt Swiderski on the Food City Dirt Race:

“Learning the new car on a dirt track will be a challenge, but we are trying to pay close attention to detail and focus on making sure we have a car that will withstand the full race, as well as something Noah can be competitive in and have a shot with at the end.” – Matt Swiderski

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

Haley has earned two top-15 finishes so far during the 2022 NCS season
Although he did not compete in last year’s Bristol dirt race, Haley comes from a dirt-racing background and competes in the UMP Dirt Modified Series

“I’m excited to do some dirt racing, which is my bread and butter. I had an opportunity to race my dirt modified car at Bristol a few weeks ago and was able to get some track time. I think the NEXT Gen car will be pretty fast and have a good amount of grip. Hopefully we can all put on a good show for the fans.” – Justin Haley

Crew Chief, Trent Owens on the Food City Dirt Race:

“Given Justin’s (Haley) dirt-racing experience, I expect him to adapt quickly to the new car this weekend at Bristol. Everyone will be in a similar position as us with the new car and different tires. With practice and the heat races, we will have plenty of time to learn the track for the main event. I’m optimistic Kaulig Racing will do well this weekend.” – Trent Owens


About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and made the Championship 4 round in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. They will continue fielding three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by AJ Allmendinger. With multiple wins, Kaulig Racing has come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. The team made multiple starts in the NCS in 2021 and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The young team has acquired two charters for the 2022 NCS season, with Justin Haley competing as its first, full-time driver in the series. The team’s second entry will be shared by part-time teammates AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

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