“Drivers, Start Your Engines”
by Austin Broin
The American Ethanol E15 250 held at the Iowa
Speedway in Newton, Iowa, on June 24 was a
notable success for the U.S. ethanol industry. Emily
Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, served as grand
marshal and gave the famous “Drivers, Start Your
Engines” call.
Brendan Gaughan of Richard Childress Racing (RCR)
competed in the red Kum & Go/American Ethanol/
E15 No. 62 car, and finished 24th in the XFINITY
Series race.
Iowa State University engineering students
interested in renewable energy were on hand and
toured the No. 62 hauler. Along with Gaughan
and Skor, RCR XFINITY Trackside Manager Danny
Lawrence, discussed with them the benefits of E15
on and off the track. These students are members of
a club building a solar powered car expected to race
up the east coast of Australia next summer.
NASCAR racers
Before the race, a press panel
have run more than
including Gaughan and Skor,
along with Enogen’s Ron
10 million miles
Wulfkuhle and Kum & Go’s Jim
on Sunoco Green
Pirolli, discussed how American
E15
Ethanol and E15 positively
impacts so many—from the seed
company (Enogen) to the driver
(Gaughan) and everyone in between.
Gaughan explained the benefits of higher
ethanol blends for NASCAR drivers, mechanics,
and employees, as well as for the daily driver.
Skor participated in radio interviews with AgWeb,
KMA Radio, and Motor Racing Network Radio, and
communicated the importance of E15 to engine
performance, the environment, and the consumer’s
pocket book.
Above left: Brendan Gaughan during qualifying for the
NASCAR XFINITY Series American Ethanol E15 250 at
Iowa Speedway on June 24, in Newton, Iowa. (Photo
courtesy of NASCAR)
Above: Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor poses with
William Byron, driver of the #9 AXALTA/WINDSORWin-
dow&Door Chevrolet, after Byron won the NASCAR
XFINITY Series American Ethanol E15 250.
(HHP/Andrew Coppley)
Left: (From l to r) Enogen’s Ron Wulfkuhle, Growth
Energy’s Emily Skor, Kum & Go’s Jim Pirolli, and RCR
No. 62 driver Brendan Gaughan at a press conference in
the media center at Iowa Speedway.
SUMMER 2017
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