NASCAR to use ethanol fuel mix

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- NASCAR says that it will use a 15% ethanol blend in its racing fuel, days after the government approved the mix.

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing said Saturday it is continuing its partnership with Sunoco for the use of "Sunoco Green E15," a fuel mix comprised of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline.

"With Sunoco Green E15, we are leading by example, showing that this renewable fuel, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions, works in the most demanding racing environment in the world," said Mike Lynch, managing director of the Green Innovation division for NASCAR, in a statement.

Sunoco, which has been NASCAR's fuel supplier since 2004, will blend the 15-85 mix at its fuel facility in Marcus Hook, Pa. The ethanol itself will be produced at Sunoco's ethanol plant in Fulton, N.Y., from American-grown corn, NASCAR said.

NASCAR's announcement followed the Environmental Protection Agency's approval of the so-called E15 mix on Oct. 13 for cars and trucks made since 2007.

Proponents of ethanol fuel say that it burns cleaner than gasoline. But critics oppose the taxpayer-funded subsidizing of corn production for ethanol and say the fuel is less energy-dense and efficient that gasoline.