SORGHUM CHECKOFF WHAT FUELS YOU? MEDIA GUIDE SPONSORSHIP OVERVIEW
AM Racing in partnership with the Sorghum Checkoff promote sorghum use in ethanol with the sponsorship of the No. 22 racing truck driven by Austin Wayne Self.
NASCAR®: Fueled by Sunoco® Green E15™ As a high-octane fuel, ethanol has powered NASCAR for over 15 million super-fast miles. NASCAR engineers choose ethanol for its power and efficiency: two qualities every car needs when rocketing around Texas Motor Speedway at 200 miles per hour. NASCAR runs on Sunoco Green E15, a race fuel blended with 15 percent ethanol, in their three national series.
AUSTIN WAYNE SELF: Fueled by sorghum The Sorghum Checkoff is revved up to sponsor NASCAR rising star and Texas native Austin Wayne Self, who first accelerated into the spotlight with a sorghum sponsorship in 2017, scoring multiple top 10s in his ethanol-powered Chevrolet Silverado.
AMERICAN CONSUMERS: Fueled by sustainable, high-performance gas Ethanol isn’t just pumping into those powerful NASCAR V8s. The fuel has fast become an essential source in American transportation. Ethanol is cleaner, more affordable and more efficient than conventional gasoline, and every day it helps our nation move farther from reliance on foreign oil and closer to a crop-based fuel solution.
What Fuels You? Program Media Kit 2 SorghumCheckoff.com SORGHUM CHECKOFF: Fueled by building markets for sorghum producers and educating consumers As the second-largest market for sorghum in the U.S., ethanol and renewable fuels move forward as a steady and important industry for sorghum producers. The Sorghum Checkoff partnership with a NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) team is part of a large-scale program that continues to drive benefits to sorghum growers by educating consumers on the benefits of ethanol and the role grain sorghum plays in ethanol production and providing increased opportunity for the ethanol industry and sorghum growers in the U.S.
SORGHUM PRODUCERS: Fueled by a vision for a sustainable future Sorghum producers remain dedicated to practices that are sustainable and look down the road to the future of farming. Sorghum grows on approximately six million acres in the U.S., with 20- 30 percent of the U.S. sorghum crop used to produce ethanol.
Sorghum farmers employ no-till or reduced-till practices on 74 percent of U.S. acres, and nearly 91 percent of U.S. sorghum acres receive no supplemental irrigation water. That’s because sorghum is a drought-tolerant crop that uses one-third less water than other crops, making it particularly well-suited to power through the arid environment of Texas. WHAT FUELS YOU?
What Fuels You? Program Media Kit 3 SorghumCheckoff.com PRESS RELEASE AUSTIN WAYNE SELF SADDLES UP FOR TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY RETURN
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – With spring break in the rearview mirror, Austin Wayne Self (@ AustinWSelf) and his AM Racing team head to Texas Motor Speedway looking for their second top-10 finish together in Friday night’s SpeedyCash.com 400.
Self will make his seventh NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) start at the 1.5-mile track but eyes his first top-10 at his hometown track.
In his previous six starts, Self has maneuvered a best finish of 12th in 2017 – but has also finished inside the top-20 five times.
Eager to get back to the race track, Self hopes the standalone Texas race brings the opportunity to earn his sixth career top-10 Gander Outdoors Truck Series finish.
“Super excited to get back to Texas Motor Speedway,” said Self. “We’ve been working hard on our Texas truck the last few weeks. Texas means so much to me being the track I grew up watching races and also have the support United Sorghum Checkoff Program along with GO TEXAN.
“Always a big week when we show up in the home state.”
For the ninth NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) race of the year and second time this season, AM Racing will carry the brand of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, while also commemorating GO TEXAN and their 20th-year celebration.
Sorghum is the world’s fifth-most important grain crop and is grown on approximately 100 million acres worldwide, including approximately six million acres in the U.S. Currently, Texas and Kansas account for 80 percent of U.S. sorghum production.
The Sorghum Checkoff focuses on developing direct awareness of the benefits of using sorghum as a fuel and feedstock in the ethanol industry and urges consumers to choose E15 at the pumps. Ethanol serves as the foundation of demand for the sorghum industry, as ethanol producers typically use about one-third of the sorghum crop to produce clean-burning, high octane fuel.
The Sorghum Checkoff program was introduced to AM Racing through GO TEXAN who is celebrating its third year of partnership with the team and serving as the primary partner on AM Racing’s truck for a majority of the 2019 season.
“The Sorghum Checkoff program has been fantastic and I’m looking forward to having them back on the truck this weekend,” added Self. “They always embrace their experience at the race track and I’d like to reward them for their continued support with our best finish of the season.”
The 23-year-old Self also hopes his final visit to the Lone Star state this season will provide the chance to get his AM Racing track back on track after a two-race slide at Kansas and Charlotte respectively.
“Texas is the perfect place to get our year back on track,” Self added. “Texas is so fun to race. The new Turn 1 and 2 is almost like a road course corner, where you can overdrive it easy. It makes for some really good racing and makes you think about your passing opportunities. It’s going to be a good show on Friday night, and I can’t wait to get there.”
What Fuels You? Program Media Kit 4 SorghumCheckoff.com The United Sorghum Checkoff Program and Texas Department of Agriculture’s GO TEXAN program will support Self in his 70th career start.
GO TEXAN, celebrating its 20th Birthday this year, represents Texas agri-business on state, national and international levels by building recognition with the GO TEXAN mark.
Along with its signature mark in the shape of Texas, GO TEXAN celebrates, promotes and supports the business savvy and plainspoken grit Texas agriculture is known for throughout the world.
AM Technical Solutions, Don’t mess with Texas, CForce Bottling Company, Flying Circle and Kreuz Market will serve as associate partners in the ninth race of the year.
In 69 NGOTS races, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series Rookie of the Year has one top-five (second at Daytona 2017) and five top-10 finishes. The Texan maintains an average finish of 18.3 during his three years of competition.
The Austin, Texas native is nestled 17th in the championship standings with 15 races remaining.
For more on Austin Wayne Self, please visit awsracing.com, like his Facebook page (Austin Wayne Self) or follow him on Twitter @AustinWSelf.
For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing) or follow them on Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.
To learn about the United Sorghum Checkoff Program and sorghum’s benefits, please visit sorghumcheckoff.com.
For more information on Don’t mess with Texas and how you can become involved in the program, visit dontmesswithtexas.org.
For additional information on CForce premium artesian water, please visit cforce.com.
For more on Flying Circle, please visit flyingcirclegear.com, like them on Facebook (FlyingCircleGear) and follow them on Instagram (@flyingcirclegear) and Twitter (@ flyingcircle_). Also connect with Flying Circle on Pinterest and YouTube.
For more on Kreuz Market, please visit kreuzmarket.com. like them on Facebook (KreuzMarketLockhart) and follow them on Twitter (@kreuzmarket).
What Fuels You? Program Media Kit 5 SorghumCheckoff.com The SpeedyCash.com 400 (167 laps| 250.5 miles) is the ninth of 23 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series races on the 2019 schedule. Practice begins on Thurs., June 6 from 2:05 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. A final practice session is set for 4:05 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Fri., June 7 beginning at 4:35 p.m. The 32-truck field will take the green flag shortly after 8:00 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite Radio, Channel 90). All times are local (Central).
ABOUT THE UNITED SORGHUM CHECKOFF PROGRAM:
In the ethanol industry, the United Sorghum Checkoff Program focuses on developing direct awareness of the benefits of using sorghum as a fuel and feedstock.
Sorghum is truly a versatile crop that can be grown as a grain, forage or sweet crop. The United States is the world’s largest producer of grain sorghum, having produced 480 million bushels in 2016.
The United Sorghum Checkoff Program is a producer-funded organization dedicated to improving the sorghum industry through research, promotion and education.
ABOUT GO TEXAN: GO TEXAN represents Texas agri-business on state, national and international levels by building recognition with the GO TEXAN mark.
Along with its signature mark in the shape of Texas, GO TEXAN celebrates, promotes and supports the business savvy and plainspoken grit Texas agriculture is known throughout the world.
Whether it’s grown, sewn or served on a plate, more than 26 million Texans shop, travel and dine out in full support of Texas business and agriculture.
ABOUT AM RACING:
AM Racing is a NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) team owned by entrepreneur Tim Self. Established in December 2015, AM Racing is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C. Operated by Self, a native of Austin, Texas, the team is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.
The team has named Austin Wayne Self as its driver for the 2019 season.
What Fuels You? Program Media Kit 6 SorghumCheckoff.com FACT SHEET
SORGHUM ETHANOL • Sorghum grows on • The ethanol industry approximately six million supports nearly 400,000 acres in the U.S. jobs and contributes almost $45 billion to U.S. gross • Texas and Kansas account domestic product (GDP). for 80 percent of U.S. sorghum production. • The sorghum ethanol industry supports nearly 10,000 jobs and contributes more • Around 20,000 family than $900 million to U.S. GDP. farmers grow sorghum. • Ethanol producers purchase • Sorghum is grown almost exclusively in approximately $20 billion worth of rotation with crops like cotton, soybeans grain from family farmers in the U.S., and wheat. including more than $300 million • Sorghum farmers employ no-till or worth of sorghum. reduced-till practices on 74 percent of • In grain purchases alone, sorghum U.S. acres. ethanol plants contribute $15,000 to • Nearly 91 percent of U.S. sorghum acres each family farmer’s bottom line. receive no supplemental irrigation water. • U.S. dependence on foreign oil is 25 • Sorghum is a drought-tolerant crop that percent lower because of ethanol. uses one-third less water than other • Net U.S. imports of crude oil and crops, making it particularly well-suited petroleum products are at their lowest to the arid environment of Texas. levels since the early 1980s, owing to • Typically, 20 to 30 percent of the U.S. the strength of the ethanol industry. sorghum crop is used to produce • Ethanol ranks as the most cost- ethanol. effective source of octane available. This • Twelve ethanol plants regularly use advantage has not only saved refiners sorghum, including three of the four money, but it has saved consumers as Texas facilities. much as $1.09 per gallon in recent years • Sorghum is the world’s fifth-most as well. important grain crop and is grown • Ethanol reduces the environmental on approximately 100 million acres impact of transportation fuels by worldwide, including approximately six more than 50 percent, which is the million acres in the U.S. equivalent of removing 11.4 million • Sorghum is a close cousin to corn and cars from the road. sugarcane, and both the crop’s visual • Smog-inducing aromatic compounds appearance and grain characteristics are make up 25 percent of today’s gasoline, very similar to those of corn. but ethanol contains 0 percent of those • If you have driven across the central U.S. compounds. on any interstate highway--10, 20, 27, 35, • Smog, or particulate matter, causes 40, 55, 70, 80--in the fall, you have likely asthma and other pulmonary and seen the often red-topped grain awaiting cardiovascular problems, and harvest. reducing it to levels mandated by law could save nearly $2 trillion in health-related expenses.
What Fuels You? Program Media Kit 7 SorghumCheckoff.com E15 SORGHUM: THE SMART CHOICE–AM • E15 (15% ethanol, 85% gasoline) RACING PARTNERSHIP works as a higher-octane • The ethanol industry’s long-running fuel available in 29 states partnership with NASCAR continues as at more than 1,200 retail one of the most successful partnerships fueling stations. in the history of U.S. agriculture. • Due to the octane value in ethanol, • NASCAR drivers have traveled 15 E15 is a lower-priced fuel. million miles on E15 with no incident, • E15 is approved for use in model year showcasing the fuel’s ability to safely 2001 and newer cars, light-duty trucks, and successfully deliver horsepower SUVs and all flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), week after week. which include more than 90 percent of • Increased demand for E15 creates all cars, trucks and SUVs on the road additional markets for sorghum, which today. can drive up the demand and bottom • Beyond E10 and E15, flex fuels such as line for sorghum producers. E85 (85% ethanol) are sold at more than • The partnership between Sorghum: The 4,000 retail stations in 45 states. Smart Choice and AM Racing will build • E85 sold as the lowest-cost motor fuel in on the successful partnership between the nation in 2017, offering FFV drivers AM Racing and Go Texan. tremendous savings at the pump.
What Fuels You? Program Media Kit 8 SorghumCheckoff.com HERO CARD
What Fuels You? Program Media Kit 9 SorghumCheckoff.com NASCAR HAS RUN 15 MILLION MILES ON
What Fuels You? Program Media Kit 10 SorghumCheckoff.com SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
MARCH JUNE 29 Texas Motor Speedway 07 Texas Motor Speedway
CONTACT INFO
UNITED SORGHUM CHECKOFF PROGRAM
John Duff Jennifer Blackburn Renewables Director External Affairs Director [email protected] [email protected] cell (806) 638-5334 cell (505) 850-5925 office (806) 749-3478 office (806) 749-3478
TEXAS GRAIN SORGHUM PRODUCERS BOARD
Wayne Cleveland Executive Director [email protected] cell (254) 541-5375
AM RACING
Jennifer Anderson [email protected] cell (803) 629-2463
What Fuels You? Program Media Kit 11 SorghumCheckoff.com www.SorghumCheckoff.com/WhatFuelsYou
/sorghumcheckoff @SorghumCheckoff /sorghumcheckoff @SorghumCheckoff