NASCAR To Race With E15 Fuel In 2011

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France announces that NASCAR will use Sunoco Green E15 fuel, an ethanol blend, beginning in 2011

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) today announced it will race with E15 fuel in its three national touring series in 2011. Sunoco Green E15 is a 15 percent ethanol blend using American-made ethanol from corn grown by American farmers.

“NASCAR is committed to being an environmental leader, and the sport has taken significant steps over the years toward conservation by introducing measurable, best-in-class initiatives in recycling, alternative energy, and carbon mitigation," said Brian France, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASCAR.

“The transition to Sunoco Green E15 takes our long-term sustainability strategy to the next level. Sunoco Green E15 is good for racing, good for the environment and good for America. While fueling the same close, door-to-door racing that thrills our fans, American ethanol creates jobs in the United States, helps foster energy independence, and continues the greening of our sport."

“Since 2004, Sunoco has produced and delivered to NASCAR the world’s best racing fuel flawlessly in a challenging, high-stakes environment," said Bob Owens, Senior Vice President, Sunoco. “We’re proud to be part of NASCAR’s dedication to conservation with Sunoco Green E15 – the ultimate high-test ethanol fuel blend. In our six years as official fuel partner, Sunoco has changed with the times by helping NASCAR transition to unleaded fuel, and now we are eager to produce for the sport a high-performance ethanol blend."

Sunoco Green E15 will be blended at Sunoco’s fuel facility in Marcus Hook, Pa., which provides high-performance race fuel to NASCAR teams at no cost to them. The American-grown and American-made corn ethanol will come in part from Sunoco’s new ethanol plant in Fulton, N.Y. The new fuel will be pumped directly from tankers at the track, rather than from on-site underground storage tanks.

NASCAR team engine builders have been testing the Sunoco Green E15 for several months, and reports have been very positive. In fact, many have reported achieving more horsepower with Sunoco Green E15.
“With Sunoco Green E15, we are leading by example, showing that this renewable fuel – which reduces greenhouse gas emissions – works in the most demanding racing environment in the world," said Dr. Mike Lynch, Managing Director for Green Innovation for NASCAR. “NASCAR and Sunoco look forward to highlighting the efforts of the whole racing community to transition to Sunoco Green E15 in time for the Daytona 500 – from its manufacture all the way to the race track."

“We know first-hand what it takes to produce high-performance, ethanol-blended fuels – almost every drop of Sunoco gasoline sold today contains ethanol," said Cynthia Archer, Vice President, Marketing and Development, Sunoco. “And, like the ethanol produced at our new manufacturing plant in upstate New York, the ethanol we use in Sunoco Green E15 will come from corn grown by American farmers. As the sport continues to go green and evolves to renewable fuels, we will now make and deliver a new cleaner-burning fuel."

Sunoco Green E15 is the latest in a series of NASCAR conservation initiatives. With the input of environmental experts and motorsports industry constituents, NASCAR is implementing programs to protect the environment while providing a proving ground for new green technologies. Drivers, teams, and track operators are working diligently on the issue of recycling, land conservation, and adopting alternative energy sources. Sponsors such as Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Goodyear, Office Depot, Safety-Kleen, Sprint and UPS are setting benchmarks for their dedication to keeping NASCAR green.

Major NASCAR industry green highlights include:

NASCAR Green Clean Air: A unique program that plants ten trees for each green flag that drops during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, capturing 100 percent of the carbon produced by the on-track racing at the events.

Largest recycling program in sports: All tires, oils, fluids and batteries used in NASCAR racing are recaptured and recycled. Additionally, NASCAR’s leading event recycling program has expanded in 2010, with Coors Light, Office Depot and UPS joining NASCAR and Coca-Cola Recycling. It is anticipated approximately 100 tons of material (including over three million containers) from NASCAR race tracks will be diverted from landfills and recycled next year.

World’s largest solar powered sports facility: The NASCAR industry is taking a leadership position in alternative energy, represented in the Pocono Raceway solar farm, which at three megawatts is the world’s biggest solar-powered sports facility, providing all the energy for the track, in addition to approximately 1,000 area homes.

“Green" Buildings: Two new office buildings, the 20-story NASCAR Plaza in Charlotte led by NASCAR which opened in June 2009, and the new headquarters building for ISC and NASCAR in Daytona Beach are LEED certified, an important distinction making them “green buildings."