By DOUG SCHMITZ
Iowa Correspondent

KULM, N.D. — With the 2011 NASCAR racing season well under way, many of its fans may not know what’s been fueling their favorite driver’s car: E15, via a new partnership between the world’s largest stock car organization and American Ethanol, led by the ethanol advocacy group Growth Energy.
“The productivity of America’s farmers is unrivaled in the world and our ability to supply corn for food, livestock feed and fuel should be a source of national pride,” said Bart Schott, president of the National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) and a Kulm, N.D. corn grower. “This exciting new association with the NASCAR Nation will help to build that awareness.”

The new partnership – announced last December in Las Vegas – follows the National Assoc. for Stock Car Auto Racing’s (or NASCAR) announcement last October that it would fuel all races with Sunoco Green E15, a new 15 percent corn ethanol blend, starting this racing season. It is backed by the NCGA and its state affiliates.

“With precision farming, innovation, technology and hard work farmers can double our harvest in the years ahead,” Schott said. “NASCAR is a high-profile way to showcase one great use for this abundance.”

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Growth Energy is a coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters, including farmers and members of the ethanol supply chain. American Ethanol will be supporting drivers, teams and tracks with marketing, promotional activities, advertising and a season-long weekly contingency award this year.

As part of the multiyear agreement, NASCAR officials said American Ethanol will be highlighted on every vehicle running in a NASCAR race and be prominent on NASCAR’s green flag. In addition, about 70,000 gallons of American-made ethanol are scheduled to be used this season.

“NASCAR and American Ethanol are ideal partners,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “NASCAR is a great American sport in its third generation of family ownership, and ethanol is produced from the harvest of family-owned farms across our country’s heartland.”

American Ethanol will participate in NASCAR’s Prize Money & Decal Program, with the creation of the “American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award” in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It will also be providing weekly prize money for eligible competitors in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series based on finishing position, Growth Energy officials said.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekly award will be given to the participating driver who records the fastest average speed on restarts and who finishes the race on the lead lap.

France said American Ethanol’s new partnership with NASCAR means everyone will be looking to the group to be a strong promoter of American renewable fuel. “The entire NASCAR industry will benefit from American Ethanol’s multifaceted support of NASCAR, as well as from thousands of farmers and members of the ethanol supply chain now serving as new ambassadors for the sport,” he said.
Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said there’s nothing more American than NASCAR. “We are so proud that the bounty of American farming will be used in NASCAR racing,” he added.

Jeff Broin, CEO of POET – a network of 27 ethanol plants producing more than 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol annually – said NASCAR is leading by example and showing American ethanol-blended fuel works in the most challenging engine environment.

“When the racecars take the green flag at Daytona, the whole world will see we are developing our own domestic energy sources right here in America with jobs that can’t be outsourced,” he said.

“Grain ethanol is at least 59 percent cleaner than conventional gasoline. Growth Energy has officially petitioned to increase the allowable blend of ethanol in transportation fuel for everyday American motorists from 10 percent to 15 percent, which would help create 136,000 new American jobs.”
Last month, American Ethanol became an associate sponsor of RAB Racing with Brack Maggard on the Number 9 Toyota Camry, driven by Kenny Wallace for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide season.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kenny Wallace as an official spokesman for American Ethanol on behalf of America’s green, clean alternative fuel component. Kenny is one of the most visible and popular drivers in Nationwide,” Schott said. “He comes from Missouri and truly appreciates the important role of corn farmers in providing consumers with a domestic fuel choice.”

Members of the Iowa Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA) participated in the Feb. 20 Daytona 500 watch party with the Iowa Speedway, getting in at half-price.
“Through the 2011 NASCAR season,” said Craig Floss, ICGA CEO,” over 75 million U.S. consumers will learn more about what ethanol has to offer by watching a race either in person, on TV or both.”

Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR consists of three national series – the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series – four regional series and one local grassroots series, as well as two international series. NASCAR is also a part of GRAND-AM Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars.