BROOKLYN, Mich. — An American-grown product powering an American sport is a natural fit for American Ethanol and the National Assoc. for Stock Car Auto Racing – better known as NASCAR. The combination has NASCAR leading the charge on the benefits of ethanol for the U.S. economy and lessening its dependence on foreign oil.

Farmer and National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) President Garry Neimeyer left the farm recently to promote ethanol at the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) NASCAR Nationwide series and Sprint Cup races in Brooklyn. With drivers Austin Dillon and Kenny Wallace supporting family farmers and American Ethanol, promotion is a breeze.

“NASCAR has embraced ethanol and so have the NASCAR fans. These drivers believe in the benefits of ethanol and have seen the difference it makes in their car performance,” commented Neimeyer, while walking the infield of MIS.

Beginning in 2011 every lap of every NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series race has been fueled by Sunoco Green E15 – a fuel that includes 15 percent renewable American Ethanol, produced from domestic corn. While ethanol is marketed to be completely renewable, better for the environment and reduce greenhouse emissions by 59 percent, NASCAR drivers like it for one simple reason: Horsepower.

Mark Lambert, senior communications manager for NCGA, said, “The biggest thing the drivers like about it is it’s higher-octane and that means horsepower. This is racing, and they like the fact that it makes them go fast.”

Since NASCAR’s switch at the Daytona 500 kickoff of the 2011 racing season, competitors in the motorsport’s three major national racing series have reached more than one million miles in race, practice and qualifying on the new Sunoco Green E15.

NASCAR officially hit the one million-mile mark with the new fuel at Watkins Glen International Speedway in mid-August 2011 and hit the two million mark at Texas Motor Speedway in mid-April.

Ethanol is not only popular with drivers but with NASCAR fans. “(Fans) like to see the cars go fast, so they like ethanol as much as the drivers,” Lambert said.

Spurring the ethanol enthusiasm, American Ethanol promoters handed out 3,000 green flags to race fans all across MIS. “It’s a replica of the green starting flag that they now start NASCAR races with every week,” he explained.

Wallace enjoys the use of ethanol in but also shows a passion to support family farmers across the United States. “It’s clean-burning fuel and makes the car go faster, and I love it,” he said.

“I’ve spent a lot of time on the farm, the bottom line is this: It’s American-made fuel. We want to support our people. We don’t want to rely on the Middle East. We make it, it doesn’t cost any more, it’s good for the environment and there’s nothing wrong with it.”

In 2011, as Wallace raced under the American Ethanol name, he also enjoyed visiting Washington, D.C., and lobbying for the fuel. “We love to support our farmers, so we want our senators to encourage more mandates for flex fuel vehicles,” he said. “Farmers are the heart and soul of this whole situation and through the American Ethanol and Family Farmers name, I’m offering my knowledge of ethanol use and its benefits through TV, Twitter and Facebook, to remind people that farmers are good people and we need to support them.”