Sunoco Attains Milestone in NASCAR Partnership
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — By the end of the 2016 racing season, NASCAR expects to surpass 10 million competition miles driven with Sunoco Green E15, a biofuel blended with 15 percent American-made ethanol.
This accomplishment will be celebrated this weekend during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway.
"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's chief operating officer. "This remarkable milestone is the result of an industrywide commitment to demonstrate high-performance racing with reduced emissions, while educating our fans about the benefits of sustainable and renewable American ethanol."
The 10 million miles will have been accumulated across practice, qualifying and racing laps since the biofuel was adopted by the sport. Sunoco, NASCAR and American Ethanol entered into a partnership five years ago, launching NASCAR's long-term biofuels program to reduce emissions across its three national racing series.
Sunoco formulated Sunoco Green E15 to allow for a seamless transition, and the biofuel debuted at Daytona International Speedway in 2011. All the ethanol for Green E15 is produced from American-grown corn at Sunoco's ethanol manufacturing facility in Fulton, N.Y.
"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," said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, which represents the producers of ethanol.
"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," Skor added.
During the pace car laps at the start of the Nov. 20 race 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 of Sunoco Green E15.