[Report] Car Racing Competitions Also Use Ethanol-Blended Fuel... Eco-Friendly Trend from NASCAR Spreads

[Current Status of Biofuels Seen from the US] ⑤
Bioethanol 15% Blend Drives 8 Million Miles
"Blended Fuel Should Shift Toward More Usage"

"Drivers, start your engine!"

At the host's cue, 38 vehicles waiting inside the track simultaneously started their engines. From children wearing soundproof headsets as big as their heads to elderly spectators with white hair, the crowd filling the stadium responded with cheers and applause.

On the 9th (local time), the 2024 NASCAR Quaker State 400 was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia, USA.
[Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association and U.S. Grains Council]

On the 9th (local time) at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia, USA, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, known as NASCAR, is not only a festival enjoyed by everyone but also a place that reveals Americans' love for cars.

Stock cars are modified production vehicles that must adhere to certain specifications set by the event organizers. They are built in an optimized form for racing according to these standards, making them very different from the models sold on the market. Equipped with a 5800cc high-displacement engine and rear-wheel drive, their exterior is made lightweight with composite fiber materials. Front and rear lights and grille parts are merely stickers. It gives the impression that all efforts were focused on driver safety and speed. Because they are built to uniform specifications, unlike Formula One (F1), where rankings depend on manufacturers' technology, the driver's skill often determines the outcome.

On the 9th (local time), the 2024 NASCAR Quaker State 400 was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia, USA.
[Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association and U.S. Grains Council]

The race itself is simple. The first to complete 260 laps around a roughly 2.5 km oval track wins. Including warm-up laps, the total distance is 659 km. After the start, drivers follow the pace car for one or two laps to warm up. Then, as the clustered cars begin to pick up speed, they roar around the track.

The noise measured by a smartphone app from the stands near the track reached 115 dB. Without earplugs, ears quickly become muffled. The average speed recorded after the race was 211 km/h. Drivers usually run at speeds in the mid to high 200 km/h range, with the highest speed during the final intense competition reaching 288 km/h.

On the 9th (local time), at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia, USA, the 2024 NASCAR Quaker State 400 took place.
[Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association and U.S. Grains Council]

A contestant is signing autographs for the audience.
[Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association · U.S. Grains Council]

It’s not just about enjoying the moment the first car crosses the finish line. The race starts at 3 p.m., but spectators arrive early in the morning to watch the preparations of the participating drivers and teams and interact with them. Hundreds of vehicle camping trailers are parked densely near the track days before the event. This has long been established as a family-oriented leisure culture centered around the racing event.

Across the United States, 38 races are held from early in the year until the end. Each race covers about 400 to 500 miles. Because the races are held over a long season, fandoms supporting each team and driver are strong. NASCAR’s popularity in the U.S. is said to rival that of professional baseball (MLB), second only to American football.

Vehicles participating in NASCAR use E15 fuel, which is a blend of 15% bioethanol. It was introduced in 2010 and has never caused any problems since then.
[Photo by Choi Dae-yeol]

The race cars use fuel called E15, a blend of gasoline and 15% bioethanol. In the U.S., E10 or E15, which contain 10% or 15% ethanol respectively, are readily available at regular gas stations. Without adding additives, the octane rating is higher, making it suitable for high-performance vehicles. Since introducing E15, NASCAR cars have driven over 8 million miles without any fuel-related disruptions to the races.

Austin Dillon, driver of car number 3 from the RCR team participating that day, said, "We need to move toward using more ethanol-blended fuel," adding, "Considering the fragile power grid, it’s better in every way compared to electric vehicles."