WHAT? Sunoco to Supply NASCAR with e15 Ethanol-Blended Race Fuel! How is that Possible?

EDITOR'S NOTE: In the 'shocking' press release you are about to read Sunoco has announced that they will be supplying NASCAR with e15 gasoline for the 2011 season. But just this week, after the EPA finally approved the use of e15, we heard from a plethora of groups that are insisting that e15 will destroy car engines, increase our national debt, confuse consumers, and rot your gums.

How can Sunoco do such a thing to us and to our nation's favorite auto racing series? I'll tell you how: ethanol does not harm engines, a robust alternative fuel industry will create jobs and get rid of foreign oil, and consumers are already confused thanks to the lies told to them by the gasoline industry (it may rot your gums, but you shouldn't be drinking any type of engine fuel anyway).

So who are some of the knuckleheads that are trying to keep us away from a cleaner, safer, more economical fuel?; groups like National Automobile Dealers Association, FollowTheScience.org, American Petroleum Institute, OPEC, National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, American Meat Institute, The Hispanic Institute, and the Snack Food Association.

PHILADELPHIA - October 16, 2010: Sunoco, Inc. announced today that it will supply the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) with a new high-performance fuel for the 2011 season. The new fuel - known as Sunoco Green E15 - is a 15% ethanol blend that will be used in NASCAR's three national touring series.

"Since 2004, Sunoco has produced and delivered to NASCAR the world's best racing fuel flawlessly in a challenging, high-stakes environment," said Bob Owens, Senior Vice President, Sunoco. "We're proud to be part of NASCAR's dedication to conservation with Sunoco Green E15 - the ultimate high-test ethanol fuel blend. In our six years as official fuel partner, Sunoco has changed with the times by helping NASCAR transition to unleaded fuel. Now we are eager to produce for the sport a high-performance ethanol blend."

Sunoco Green E15 will be blended at Sunoco's fuel facility in Marcus Hook, Pa. The corn-based ethanol will come in part from Sunoco's new ethanol manufacturing facility in Fulton, N.Y. NASCAR team engine builders have been testing Sunoco Green E15 for several months and reports have been very positive. In fact, many have reported achieving more horsepower with Sunoco Green E15. The new fuel will be pumped directly from tankers at the track, rather than from on-site underground storage tanks. NASCAR fans will see the same great racing they have come to expect, but with a new, greener fuel.

"We know first-hand what it takes to produce high-performance, ethanol-blended fuels - almost every drop of Sunoco gasoline sold today contains ethanol," said Cynthia Archer, Vice President, Marketing and Development, Sunoco. "We look forward to highlighting the efforts of the whole racing community to transition to Sunoco Green E15 in time for the Daytona 500 - from its manufacture all the way to the racetrack."

As the new official fuel of NASCAR, Sunoco Green E15 will replace Sunoco 260 GTX, the 98-octane, unleaded race fuel that set the standard for performance. Starting in 2011, Sunoco Green E15 will be used by every car and truck in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Sunoco is a leading transportation fuel provider, with operations located primarily in the East Coast and Midwest regions of the United States. The company operates more than 4,700 branded retail locations that market transportation fuels and convenience store merchandise in 23 states. This retail network is principally supplied by Sunoco-owned refineries with a combined crude oil processing capacity of 675,000 barrels per day. Sunoco is also the General Partner and has a 31-percent interest in Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P., a publicly traded master limited partnership which owns and operates 6,000 miles of refined product and crude oil pipelines and approximately 40 product terminals. Many of Sunoco Logistics' pipelines and terminals and storage facilities are integrated with Sunoco's retail network and refineries. Through SunCoke Energy, Sunoco makes high-quality metallurgical-grade coke for major steel manufacturers. The company's facilities in the U.S. have the capacity to manufacture approximately 3.67 million tons of metallurgical coke annually. Sunoco also is the operator of, and has an equity interest in, a 1.7 million tons-per-year coke-making facility in Brazil.

SEE ALSO:

The Auto Channel Fights for the Truth about Ethanol Versus Gasoline
Alcohol and Driving DO Mix