WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 21, 2011) — In a detailed ‘white paper’ issued today, NASCAR announced it has accumulated more than a million miles of driving in 2011 on America’s toughest proving grounds: the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR Nationwide Series™ and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™.
The data in the “One Million Competition Miles on Sunoco Green E15” report show E15’s qualities as a fuel. With more than 1.3 million miles accumulated in practice, qualifying and racing laps in NASCAR racing vehicles – all seamlessly since the racing season began in February with the Daytona 500 – the report demonstrates the performance of mid-level ethanol blends.
The release of the report is particularly timely because this week, the Environmental Protection Agency, and environmental officials and Americans nationwide are celebrating National Pollution Prevention Week. According to the EPA, pollution prevention is the cornerstone of sustainability.
“Before NASCAR switched its fuel to Sunoco Green E15 at the start of the 2011 racing season, there was extensive analysis and deep consideration about the decision,” said Mike Lynch, Managing Director of Green Innovation for NASCAR. “Successfully transitioning to the new fuel and surpassing a million miles, all on America’s toughest proving ground, is a validation of Sunoco Green E15 as a high-performance racing fuel and is part of our overall effort to go green. NASCAR is proud to use this American-made product because it creates American jobs while also reducing harmful emissions.”
NASCAR’s switch to the new fuel was borne out of a partnership with American Ethanol. Representing a wide array of ethanol supporters, from farmers to bio-engineering firms, American Ethanol was established by Growth Energy in partnership with the National Corn Growers Association and others. By establishing a marketing partnership with NASCAR starting with the 2011 racing season, the same year that NASCAR switched its fuel to Sunoco Green E15, American Ethanol aims to educate and inform the broader American public about the benefits of U.S.-made ethanol.
“It is time we moved forward with E15. This is yet another testament to E15’s value as a fuel. If E15 can fuel the dozens of drivers in dozens of different vehicles every weekend without issue, then it stands to reason that E15 can be used in everyday street cars by everyday Americans,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy.
“Farmers across America have been using ethanol fuel in engines, large and small, successfully for decades and NASCAR’s move to Sunoco Green E15 has thrown public acceptance into a higher gear,” said Bart Schott, President of the National Corn Growers Association. “E15 is performing like champ in the most rigorous driving conditions on the planet and that’s good news for everyone who supports renewable fuels,”
The report can be accessed here
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America’s premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most brand loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 100 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as two international series. Also part of NASCAR is Grand-Am Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in eight cities across North America. The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the second in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, is the Sylvania 300 in Loudon, N.H., which will air Sept. 25 on ESPN at 1:00 p.m. ET. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com. Follow NASCAR on www.facebook.com/NASCAR or on Twitter: @NASCAR.