Vroom! Here comes the 2012 NASCAR season

In preparation for the upcoming NASCAR season and the National Corn GrowersAssociation's (NCGA) partnership with American Ethanol, as a representative from the Nebraska Corn Board, I traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina - home of all things racing - last week for a meeting of NASCAR communicators.

Communicators representing eight corn states joined NCGA staff on Feb. 7-8, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina to learn more about NASCAR, the RAB Racing and Richard Childress Racing teams, and to discuss activation events promoting American Ethanol and E15 to consumers.

What is exciting for the 2012 racing season is that American Ethanol will be sponsoring two drivers - Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) with RAB Racing and Austin Dillon (@AustinDillon3) of RCR Racing. Dillon will be racing the black No. 3 car in the Nationwide series and Kenny will be hoping to qualify in the upcoming Daytona 500 to race in the Sprint Cup series in the No. 33 car.

And yes, we got to meet Austin Dillon. :)

As part of the tour in Charlotte, we got to tour both RAB and RCR racing shops where the cars are made, and learn more about what it takes to be a driver and part of the crew. The in's and out's of racing are amazing!

American Ethanol will again be featured on every race car in the green decal around the fuel cap. In five specific races, American Ethanol will be featured - more details to come!

Don't forget to check out the success of American Ethanol in its first season of racing on E15 by going to www.americanethanolracing.com.

More photos from the communicators meeting can be found on our online Flickr photo album.

Can't get enough NASCAR/American Ethanol? Check out these blogs:

• Corn farmers, American Ethanol gearing up for NASCAR season, Daytona
• Proving ethanol and E15 at 200 mph
• First-time NASCAR experience? Awesome!
• Off to the Races….Running on American Ethanol
• NASCAR partnership means deals for corn farmers