American Ethanol to partially sponsor No. 33

Clint Bowyer

Today American Ethanol announced it has entered into a sponsor partnership with Richard Childress Racing and its No. 33 Chevrolet for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Bowyer, driver of the No. 33 Chevrolet, will serve as an official spokesman for American Ethanol on behalf of America's green, clean alternative fuel component. American Ethanol will be the primary sponsor of the No. 33 Chevrolet car at the June 5th Kansas Speedway 400 and an associate sponsor of the car for the rest of the season.

"Richard Childress Racing and Clint Bowyer are great additions to the American Ethanol team," said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. "Clint's from Kansas, and he knows first-hand the opportunities that American farming and American ethanol offer our country – opportunities to create jobs here, clean our air, and strengthen national security by making our nation more energy independent."

Growth Energy led the effort to create American Ethanol, the coalition that signed a partnership agreement with NASCAR to promote the use of domestically-produced ethanol from both corn and cellulosic biomass. Other American Ethanol partners include the National Corn Growers Association.

"Richard Childress Racing is proud to partner with Growth Energy on our No. 33 NASC AR Sprint Cup Series team," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "Growth Energy's program of job creation and reduced foreign oil dependence through American ethanol is exactly what the United States needs in these tough economic times. Having Clint as a spokesman will only strengthen Growth Energy's overall NASCAR program."

"Corn farmers have played a big role funding research to make ethanol production more efficient and promoting its many benefits," said Bart Schott, National Corn Growers Association president. "Now, it is time to showcase all ethanol has to offer on a national stage. Working with professional pacesetters like Clint Bowyer and Richard Childress Racing, NASCAR, and Growth Energy is a remarkable opportunity for America's family farmers."

Ethanol is the most commercially-viable alternative that America currently has to offset the economic impact of foreign petroleum. Corn ethanol reduces emissions by 59 percent, and cellulosic ethanol is at least 86 percent cleaner. And by strengthening America's energy independence, ethanol helps create American jobs – studies have shown that for every $1 sent overseas for oil, $1.55 leaves the U.S. economy.

"Born and raised in the Midwest, it's truly an honor to support American farmers as they strive to develop energy independence for our country," said Bowyer. "I look forward to representing American Ethanol both on and off the track beginning this weekend in Daytona."

Growth Energy, a coalition of American ethanol supporters, filed the petition to the federal government, called the Green Jobs Waiver, to increase the allowable blend of ethanol in fuel from 10 percent to 15 percent, or E15. This year, NASCAR embraced the desire for greener, American-job-producing fuels when it announced its decision to move to Sunoco Green E15 for NASCAR's three national series.