This weekend’s first of two scheduled NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visits to Kansas Speedway will be a particularly special race for Clint Bowyer. Not only is he a proud native of Emporia, Kan. but he will also be piloting a special primary paint scheme promoting American Ethanol. Bowyer, who drives the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, also serves as an official spokesman for American Ethanol on behalf of America’s green, clean alternative fuel component and arrives at his home track safely ensconced in eighth place with 12 races in the books.
American Ethanol is something the sport of NASCAR has fully embraced in 2011 – and beyond – with all three series (Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Trucks) running a new fuel, Sunoco Green E-15 which is a 15% ethanol blend fuel made with corn grown solely in the United States. Appropriately, welcoming Bowyer back home this weekend will be 1,100 American Ethanol supporters, people from ethanol plants belonging to Growth Energy to farmers from across the Midwest who belong to the National Corn Growers Association.
These farmers are the very people behind American Ethanol – living proof of how ethanol supports the American farmer as well as creating jobs and strengthening rural economies. In short: it’s a win-win partnership.
Growth Energy – a coalition of American ethanol supporters – led the effort to create American Ethanol and CEO Tom Buis was effusive when discussing the partnership with Bowyer and RCR. “Richard Childress Racing and Clint Bowyer are great additions to the American Ethanol team,” said Buis.
“Clint is from the Midwest and he knows firsthand the opportunities that American farming and American ethanol offer our country – opportunities to create jobs here, clean our air, and make our nation more energy independent.” Bowyer is equally excited to be part of the team noting: “Born and raised in the Midwest, it’s truly an honor to support American farmers as they strive to develop this initiative,” said Bowyer. “I look forward to representing American Ethanol both on and off the track.”
While the partnership between American Ethanol and NASCAR is still in a nascent stage, there are already great examples of how this relationship comes to live each weekend. First and foremost, it’s the fuel that runs the cars themselves, all of whom have American Ethanol decals around the fuel entry point; but also NASCAR put the American Ethanol logo on the green starting flag – a first for the sport.
In addition, this weekend at the Kansas 400, the American Ethanol logo will be painted along the SAFER barriers on the backstretch – a unique feature for this particular race. There will also be an interactive midway display for race goers to help educate fans at the track on the benefits of ethanol.
More from Buis on this weekend and the depth of the partnership: “There is no sport more American than NASCAR and no fuel more American than ethanol. It’s a great combination, and we know that by working with NASCAR we are not only reaching the most loyal sporting fans in the nation, through the most effective means, we are validating to all Americans that ethanol is a terrific fuel for today’s autos. With American ethanol, we can create American jobs, and clean our skies.”
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says American-grown and American-made ethanol is a renewable fuel with lower greenhouse gas than unleaded gas. What’s more, the industry has made a seamless transition to Sunoco Green E-15. One third of the way through the season, the teams have resoundingly said that they like it and many have reported that they’re seeing an increase in horsepower on the track; and the competition in the NSCS has been equally as strong.
Corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 59% and is responsible for supporting nearly 400,000 American jobs. Last year, the U.S. ethanol industry accounted for $53.6 billion of the nation’s economy, putting $36 billion in the hands of American consumers. Ethanol is the only commercially viable alternative fuel in the United States and strengthens the nation’s energy independence.
Tony Lumbis has headed the Marketing Department for Frontstretch since 2008. Responsible for managing our advertising portfolio, he deals with our clients directly, closing deals while helping promote the site’s continued growth both inside and outside the racing community through social media and traditional outlets. Tony is based outside Philadelphia.