MARTINSVILLE, Va. – The American Ethanol coalition announced today that the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet race car will feature a special-edition American Ethanol paint scheme at this weekend’s Martinsville Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. This car will be driven by American Ethanol spokesman and recent Talladega race winner, Clint Bowyer. Millions of TV viewers will be seeing the American Ethanol brand, as the sporty black, silver and green paint design will be on-track all weekend and will be accompanied with a broadcast in-car camera on Sunday.
Through its partnership with NASCAR, which is using Sunoco Green E-15 racing fuel this season, American Ethanol is promoting the nation’s homegrown, clean-burning alternative fuel to millions of brand-loyal NASCAR racing fans. NASCAR has made a seamless transition to the new fuel by developing and implementing flawless distribution at the track, where many racing teams report an increase in horsepower.
In fact, in a detailed ‘white paper’ issued on September 21, 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&™. With more than 1.3 million miles accumulated in practice, qualifying and racing laps in NASCAR racing vehicles – all without incident since the racing season began in February with the Daytona 500 – the report demonstrates the performance of mid-level ethanol blends. You can access this report here.
“This branded race car design raises American Ethanol’s profile in a powerful way, especially coming off Clint Bowyer’s win last week in Talladega,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “There’s no sport more American than NASCAR, and no fuel more American than ethanol. American Ethanol’s partnership with NASCAR shows fans across the country that ethanol is a safe and viable choice for their cars, and that it creates jobs in the U.S., decreases our reliance on foreign oil and improves our environment.”
“We are extremely excited that Bowyer’s No. 33 car will prominently feature American Ethanol in this week’s race,” said National Corn Growers Association NASCAR Advisory Committee Chair Martin Barbre. “Of course, we again congratulate our spokesman on his major victory last week. Now, tens of millions of fans across the country will be keyed into Clint as he again shows the incredible performance of E15 as it fuels him back into victory lane again.”
“The transition to E15 has been seamless and overwhelmingly positive for myself and my team, and I am honored to have American Ethanol on the No. 33 Chevrolet this weekend,” said Bowyer. “I support American farmers as they strive to develop energy independence for our country and I look forward to representing American Ethanol both on and off the track this weekend at Martinsville.”
The Martinsville Speedway Sprint Cup Series race will be on ESPN beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET.
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy represents the producers and supporters of ethanol who feed the world and fuel America in ways that achieve energy independence, improve economic well-being and create a healthier environment for all Americans now. Learn more at growthenergy.org.
About National Corn Growers Association
Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association represents 35,000 dues-paying corn farmers nationwide and the interests of more than 300,000 growers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 48 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to create and increase opportunities for their members and their industry. For more information, visit www.ncga.com.
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing has earned more than 200 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 RCR Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. For more information, visit www.rcrracing.com.