American Ethanol Shines at Kansas Speedway NASCAR Races

Kyle Bush won Go Bowling 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at the Kansas Speedway Saturday running on E15, 15 percent ethanol fuel. In fact, all NASCAR race vehicles have operated exclusively on E15 fuel since 2011. The Kansas Corn Commission educated race fans about high performance ethanol fuel at the NASCAR races at Kansas Speedway on Friday and Saturday. Kansas Corn is part of the American Ethanol partnership with NASCAR, along with Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association and several other state corn grower organizations. NASCAR has driven over well over 8 million miles on E15 fuel.
“As a part of American Ethanol, we were at the track on Friday and Saturday to promote ethanol blended fuels and help people understand that if E15 fuels work in high performance NASCAR race vehicles, it will work great in their vehicles too,” according to Kansas Corn CEO Greg Krissek.
American Ethanol spokesperson Austin Dillon, driving the #3 car with the American Ethanol paintout, finished sixth in Saturday’s Sprint Cup race, marking the second time this season that he had won back-to-back top ten finishes. The Kansas Corn Commission led an effort with corn grower organizations from Nebraska and Missouri, NCGA and Growth Energy to promote ethanol at the track.
 “Our staff handed out American Ethanol flags and information in the campgrounds and throughout the track to drive fans to the American Ethanol display featuring the Biofuels Education trailer,” Krissek said. Austin Dillon finished sixth at Kansas Speedway in the GoBowling.com 400.  Dillon made a pre-race driver appearance at the American Ethanol midway display that featured the Biofuels Mobile Education Center. Dillon, part of the Richard Childress Racing team, filled the Midway with fans looking for autographs and photos.
 “The reaction of NASCAR fans to ethanol fuel was very positive. They were supportive and they wanted to learn more,” Krissek said. “The NASCAR fans make our partnership with American Ethanol valuable-they are interested high performance cars and high performance fuel. Higher blends of ethanol are high-octane, high performance fuels that we can use in our vehicles.
Krissek and northwest district Kansas Corn Commissioner Dennis McNinch were interviewed on Motor Racing Network (MRN) during the race. Kansas ethanol fuel retailers Phil and Cheryl Near of Wichita presented the American Ethanol Restart Award to #38 Landon Cassill before the race. The Kansas Corn Commission hosted several fuel retailers at the race.
All gas-powered vehicles made in model year 2001 and newer are approved to operate on E15, 15 percent ethanol fuel. The Kansas Corn Commission is funding programs to build infrastructure for higher blends of ethanol in Kansas and across the U.S.  For information on the Kansas program, visit https://kscorn.com/ksbetterblends/