NASCAR goes 'green,' enters biofuel debate (Daytona 500)

Daytona Beach News Journal ^ | February 20, 2011 | WILL HOBSON

[libertarian27]

DAYTONA BEACH -- When the green flag drops for the 53rd Daytona 500 today, most eyes will be on the action on the track. Those paying close attention to the flag, though, will notice something new -- a large "E" -- representing American Ethanol, the industry group pushing for expanded use of the biofuel.

About 120,000 race fans will wave smaller versions of the same flag, handed out by NASCAR to promote its decision to switch fuels this year. Every car and truck in NASCAR's top three series in 2011 will use Sunoco Green E15 -- a blend of gasoline with 15 percent corn ethanol. NASCAR, the federal government and corn ethanol producers say the biofuel reduces emissions and decreases American reliance on foreign oil.

[libertarian27]

I have a big problem with this!

And fans will now be indoctrinated with waving "E" flags during the race like good 'ole Chinese Communists...ugh

Might have to boycott watching the big-3 NASCAR divisions this year.

[chickadee]

I know several NASCAR fans and they hate ethanol. This sounds like yet another misstep for the powers that be at NASCAR.

[libertarian27]

I know several (a lot) of NASCAR owners, lower divisions, that hate ethanol too! I’m one of them.

[al baby]

That and they are stopping beer sales after the 3rd quarter

[yup2394871293]

ethanol...it goes down smooth! (don't mind the antifreeze, it just adds texture)

[A. Morgan]

What’s next 25% ethanol? The engines of old vehicles will be ruined. Perhaps, that is the idea get the older vehicles off the road. The older cars and the older people will have to go.

[MichaelP]

Lets see...Danica Patrick, Drive for diversity, hip hop and pop music, ethanol, slow cars, no fighting, kyle busch, Jaun Pablum, toyota, kyle busch....

Mike

[chickadee]

“That and they are stopping beer sales after the 3rd quarter”

---

Now you’re talkin’ about the REALLY important stuff:)

[Beagle8U]

When does the race start today?

[libertarian27]

I read green flag drops at 1:19 est

[Robe]

Just don’t put that “E” crap in a outboard....it’ll burn that sucker up!!!!

[Beagle8U]

Thanks!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I like how we're told by some if we educated ourselves about ethanol that our opinion would change. So I did. Turned out it's a bigger waste than I thought. I heard for years that it was really bad for older marine, small, and car engines. Now I know that it's also bad for new ones.

[badgerlandjim]

that’s why all the folks on Rocky Top

put their corn in a car...

[RegulatorCountry]

Somebody mistook brains for a bull market in NASCAR years ago, and I know who it is. The same genius who more or less said he wanted to grow it beyond the typical redneck fan base. The same genius who dragged affirmative action into the sport, as if there were anyone keeping anybody out, who wanted to race and had the sponsorship to pull it off.

This is just more of the same. No wonder so many former, avid NASCAR fans have turned to dirt tracks or dragstrips for their motorsports entertainment.

Way to go. /s

[Tupelo]

I watched the races earlier this week and and was surprised to hear the announcers mention that the E-15 does not yield as good of gas mileage. Maybe they forgot to give them the message and it just slipped out. What they did not say was the E-15 also yields less horsepower.
That added to maybe the worst racing I have seen in 50 years is going to make a long year for the NASCAR fans. But then again, most NASCAR fans are more interested in the wrecking than the racing.
so back to the dirt fro me. After all: DIRT IS FOR RACING. ASPHALT IS A RECTAL PROBLEM.

[libertarian27]

Yes, it’s like educating yourself about Glowball Warming - lol

Once that edjumacation kicks in - you know it’s a farce.

[dila813]

I agree, high food prices are causing people around the world to die due to civil unrest, I don’t like to see death on the race track in any form.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Does that NASCAR person happen to have the same name as a European country does?

[loungitude]

Lower energy per volume. I’m sure the boys will welcome that! It’s like asking them to carry dead weight. No, it IS asking them to carry dead weight.