NASCAR DRIVER TO PROMOTE E-85 AT FARM PROGRESS SHOW

Tricia Braid

Aug 22, 2013  |  Today's News

Legendary NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace will be encouraging farmers to fill-up with E-85 at an appearance in the IL Corn exhibit at the Farm Progress Show.

Wallace joins other NASCAR drivers in using an ethanol blend in their high-performance race cars. NASCAR has been using the ethanol blend in all three national series for three seasons, racing over 4.5 million miles using corn-based ethanol.

Illinois Corn Marketing Board entered a relationship with Wallace in 2010, and since that time, Wallace, who will make his 900th NASCAR start at Chicagoland in September, has become known as an advocate for ethanol and family farmers. He’s been voted on several occasions as NASCAR’s most popular drivers and is social media influence includes nearly 200,000 twitter followers.

“I’m excited to be back at the Farm Progress Show,” said Wallace. “I know that the farmers that attend the show are really interested in what’s new, what’s scientifically proven, and what’s the best thing to do.”

“Ethanol fits the bill exactly. You farmers are growing the corn. You should be using the ethanol fuel,” Wallace asserted.

Wallace will promote IL Corn’s “I Grow It, I Use It” campaign which is aimed at encouraging farmers to use E-85 in their flex-fuel vehicles. Market indicators are such that the price spread between regular gasoline and E-85 will be a strong incentive to make this fuel choice for the foreseeable future. More information can be found at www.ilcorn.org/flexfuel.

In a survey of farmers conducted by IL Corn, 41% own a flex-fuel vehicle.

Wallace will be on the Farm Progress Show site in the IL Corn exhibit, #355, from 10am-noon on Wednesday, August 28 to meet farmers.