Ethanol plant design-builder ICM, Inc. is partnering with National Biofuels Distribution (NBD) to supply and support the United States Auto Club (USAC) with the high-performance ethanol racing fuel called Ignite. The switch to Ignite was announced just recently by USAC.

The USAC includes more than 600 race teams and 250 annual USAC-sanctioned races, including the Silver Crown Series, National Sprint Car Series, National Midget Series, and Traxxas TORC Series. USAC racers are expected to use about 2.5 million gallons of the ethanol racing fuel annually. According to ICM, research this year on Ignite E90 ethanol fuel will provide performance data for a consistent ethanol blend, a standard expected by racing industry experts. ICM anticipates the expansion of Ignite Racing Fuel into additional racing series in 2012 and 2013.

Dan Schwartzkopf of ICM, former owner of Renova Racing’s six-car team, will be offering his past experiences, knowledge, and contacts to the effort. “ICM views the Ignite Fuel/USAC agreement as a valuable platform to provide education about the superior performance and low emissions of ethanol, both on track and off,” Schwartzkopf said.

Schwartzkopf has a 20-year, six-series racing background, including helping other racing series adopt the use ethanol, and he will lend his experience to the ICM team providing technical data and expertise to Ignite Fuel.

Domestic Fuel interviewed Schwartzkopf a couple of times in the early years of the Indy series switch to ethanol. You can listen to them here and here.