NASCAR has announced that during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Phoenix International Raceway this weekend, it will surpass 10 million competition miles fueled by Sunoco Green E15. The miles were accumulated during practices and qualifying and racing laps. This season is the 6th since Sunoco and American Ethanol began a partnership and the green fuel was debuted in 2011 at Daytona International Speedway. Every gallon of Green E15 is produced from American-grown corn at Sunoco’s ethanol manufacturing facility in Fulton, New York.
American Ethanol Sweepstakes winners received the ultimate experience during the NASCAR race at Talladega. Pictured here are the winners with driver Austin Dillon.
“As we approach 10 million miles on Sunoco Green E15 across our three national series, it’s evident that the renewable, higher ethanol blended fuel performs flawlessly against our rigorous racing conditions,” said Brent Dewar, NASCAR chief operating officer. “This remarkable milestone is the result of an industry-wide commitment to demonstrate high performance racing with reduced emissions, while educating our fans about the benefits of sustainable and renewable American ethanol.”
According to Growth Energy, who leads the American Ethanol program, the introduction of Green E15 has helped validate the biofuel’s benefits in front of millions of NASCAR fans. The organization says the partnership is helping to shift consumer attitudes and behaviors around the use of ethanol and E15.
According to research commissioned by NASCAR and conducted by Toluna in July 2016, when compared to non-fans, NASCAR fans are more likely to support the use of ethanol blended gasoline to fuel NASCAR race cars, their own car, and cars on the road today to increase U.S. energy independence.
“We are thrilled to reach this important milestone with NASCAR and to be a part of the effort to reduce the sport’s impact on the environment with Sunoco Green E15, while increasing horsepower and standing up to the most demanding conditions on the track,” added Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “Like their favorite NASCAR drivers, consumers are now utilizing a fuel with a blend of 15 percent ethanol. Americans have already driven over 500 million miles on E15. Today, nearly 400 stations across 28 states sell E15 and those numbers continue to climb. Consumer demand is on the rise because Americans are finding out that E15 is the right choice for their engines, their wallets and the environment.”
During the pace car laps at the start of the race on Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, NASCAR fans at the start/finish line will be asked to participate in a coordinated American Ethanol green flag wave to help commemorate the 10 million-mile achievement.