Race Car Sponsorship Drives Biofuels Awareness
In a recent Wallaces Farmer article, Sukup Manufacturing of Sheffield, Iowa, was recognized as an official sponsor of the 100 Firestone Indy Lights Race at the Iowa Speedway to be held June 25, 2011. They have also partnered with ISU and the Farm Progress Show to sponsor the ISU Racecar. This new partnership with ISU, NASCAR and the Iowa Speedway is designed to promote the use of ethanol-based blended fuel and the renewable fuels industry.
This year NASCAR started fueling its stock cars with a blend of 15% ethanol made from corn grown by American farmers. This month’s races at Iowa Speedway marked the first time NASCAR’s ethanol-fueled cars raced in Iowa.
The Chevrolet pictured here, with number 85 on the sides, was driven Saturday, May 21, by Tanner Whitten in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. It was a big weekend for the 18-year-old driver, who graduated from high school the next day, May 22.
ISU Racecar sponsored by the Farm Progress Show and Sukup Manufacturing
Eugene Sukup, founder of Sukup Manufacturing, spoke at a press conference held in Des Moines to promote the new project. He said, “Ethanol has been a real boost for Iowa and indeed Midwest agriculture. Iowa has done the groundwork in developing alternative energy and has done it very well. ISU is helping to further develop renewable fuels, the next generation of biofuels.”
He added, “Our business is making bins and equipment to store and handle grain, including corn that’s made into ethanol. The 41 ethanol plants we have in Iowa today, plus the rest of them in the U.S., have raised the price of corn and have helped boost U.S. farm income. The big thing we all need to do today is to help address the public’s understanding of the importance of biofuels and the need to continue to do research and development. Today’s corn ethanol is a much needed step to help bring us to the next generation of renewable fuels.”
Visit this link for coverage of a press conference held in Des Moines to promote this new biofuels promotion and for an interview with race car driver Tanner Whitten.
