Roush Fenway Racing has become the first carbon-neutral team in NASCAR, the NASCAR Cup Series organization announced Feb. 18.
RFR will use Castrol, its official sponsor, to reduce its carbon usage and offset programs across its operations both on and off the track.
The partnership between the team and Castrol will help the team better manage its greenhouse gas emissions by tracking, quantifying and reducing those emissions, and offsetting the balance with high-quality carbon offsets.
“As an organization, Roush Fenway has always been environmentally conscious,” RFR President Steve Newmark said in a team statement. “Our hope with this program is to demonstrate that every business, small or large, and regardless of industry, can contribute to address global climate challenges. We hope to set an example and highlight that small steps by many can make a real difference.”
“It’s an honor to pave the way in the sport and bring awareness to the importance of reducing your carbon footprint,” driver Ryan Newman added. “Every business can make choices to help promote a more sustainable future and this program makes me proud to be part of a team that takes the initiative to drive change.”
As part of the program, Newman’s No. 6 Ford will have a special paint scheme for the upcoming race at the Daytona International Speedway road course.
Check out this paint scheme! Excited to partner with @CastrolUSA to be the first @NASCAR team to go carbon neutral both on and off the track! Proud of the @RoushFenway team! https://t.co/2VTgG29d5z #drivingforchange pic.twitter.com/11IZduZI6s
— Ryan Newman (@RyanJNewman) February 18, 2021
In the statement, RFR announced it has already achieved carbon neutrality for the entire organization throughout all its facilities for all of 2020.
RFR fields Newman in the No. 6 and Chris Buescher in the No. 17. Buescher finished the 2021 Daytona 500 31st and Newman finished 38th as both drivers were involved in a lap 15 wreck.
Mark Kristl joined Frontstretch at the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR season. He is the site's ARCA Menards Series editor. Kristl is also an Eagle Scout and a proud University of Dayton alum.
Roush and every person & company that flies private jets (especially private jets), races cars with internal combustion engines, or operates a fleet of tractor trailers has a large carbon footprint. It is unavoidable. I don’t think carbon offsets truly capture 1 pound of carbon for every pound emitted. I think there is some creative math being by Roush (our anyone that engages in the same activities) to get to carbon neutral status. I think these companies take credit today for what their carbon offsets are projected to do in the future which may or may not come true and are probably over estimated. If I’m correct, carbon offsets are only a feel good or PR solution.
They’ve certainly conserved speed in recent years.
Good one!!!