Corn farmers, American Ethanol gearing up for NASCAR season, Daytona

The Daytona 500 is just around the corner, with the Budweiser Shootout kicking off events on February 18 and The Great American Race itself set for February 26 – and there's a chance you'll get to see an American Ethanol car in the big race.

A year ago, the Daytona 500 is where American Ethanol and Sunoco Green E15 (15 percent corn ethanol fuel) debuted, with Green E15 being used in every race and American Ethanol appearing on every fuel port, green flag and other marketing positions as the racing season went on.

Following that first year's experience, American Ethanol, a partnership that includes corn farmers in Nebraska (via their support of American Ethanol and NASCAR partner National Corn Growers Association), is gearing up for a bigger and better 2012.

American Ethanol has inked a deal to continue relationships with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and RAB Racing for the 2012 season.

Wallace's paint out for the Daytona 500.

With RAB Racing, American Ethanol is supporting No. 09 Toyota driver Kenny Wallace in five Nationwide Series races this year. Wallace did a great job representing American Ethanol and American corn farmers last year.

What's really exciting with the RAB partnership this year, though, is American Ethanol is supporting Wallace's attempt to qualify and race in the Daytona 500. His car will feature an American Ethanol paint out for qualifying and the race.

For RCR, Austin Dillon, the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, will drive the iconic No. 3 Chevrolet during the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season with American Ethanol serving as the primary sponsor for six races as well as one race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2012.

Austin Dillon’s No. 3 American Ethanol
Chevrolet paint scheme.

The first American Ethanol sponsored race for Dillon will be the Daytona Nationwide race, the DRIVE4COPD 300, which is scheduled for February 25. It's a high-profile venue and a great place to prominently feature American Ethanol.

The deal also makes American Ethanol an associate sponsor of the RCR team, with owner Richard Childress as well as RCR’s Sprint Cup Series veterans Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Paul Menard also serving as spokesmen.