The inaugural STP 300 Nationwide Series race is in the books. The winner is Justin Aligaier, Brandt Racing, in the #31 car. He actually ran out of fuel right after crossing the finish line. These guys plan it right down to the end!
The Family Farmer/Marquis Energy car driven by Kenny Wallace finished 7th. And since all these cars are running on a fifteen percent blend of ethanol I think farmers win and ethanol producers win. Actually the American public wins with this clean burning fuel. Hopefully the efforts being taken by organizations like American Ethanol, National Corn Growers Association and my sponsor for this event coverage, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, are paying off with better understanding by the public of the benefits and value of home grown fuel.
After victory lane activities Justin came into the media room and gave a great shout out to America’s farmers. Of course Brandt Racing has some real ties to agriculture!
Justin Aligaier On Ethanol and FarmersI’m going to upload some more photos and hit the road. More interviews will be posted in the next couple days.
I finally caught up to NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace today during the hospitality event for Illinois corn and soybean growers. Here’s Kenny revving up the crowd before afternoon qualifying.
I’ve been following some race car advocates for clean burning ethanol for a while but I think Kenny has them all beat. I wish I had recorded his remarks to the crowd of farmers gathered here today for the Nationwide Series STP 300. It was awesome baby. I especially liked his message to America’s Family Farmers that what they do is important and that they are loved and appreciated regardless of any critics out there. Amen to that! They are feeding and fueling America and I’d rather burn ethanol than imported oil based fuel from countries and people who don’t like us!
Kenny Wallace Interview
Who says agriblogging isn’t hard work? I dare them to come out to a 90+ degree race track, strap on some Nikons and a vest and wander around getting the shots you need.
I love it though. Whether it’s out in a field or at a race track, anywhere, anytime is a great time to agvocate for America’s farmers and ranchers. I’m collecting photos today here at Chicagoland Speedway all the way through the inaugural STP 300 Nationwide Series race tonight. I just got out of the photographer’s meeting which is mandatory if you want to shoot a race. It’s all about safety while still getting the opportunity for a great shot. I’ll be doing my best. I got the #2 vest and keep getting asked who is number 1. I dunno and don’t care. LOL.
Here’s where my photos are being collected throughout the day and including tonight’s race: STP 300 Nationwide Series NASCAR Weekend Photos
This is why we’re out here at NASCAR this weekend. Every car on the track here at Chicagoland Speedway and tomorrow at Kansas Speedway will be sporting the American Ethanol name around their gas cap. A fifteen percent blend of ethanol will be fueling these cars to help show consumers that the fuel is perfectly safe in their cars and is also good for performance.
It’s race day here in Joliet. I’ll be attending the Illinois Corn Growers/Iowa Soybean Association hospitality area midday and then back inside the track for the afternoon’s activities. I’ll be posting some interviews and final results too. The STP 300 doesn’t start until 7pm tonight!
Although ethanol is in all these cars I’m paying special attention to Kenny Wallace in the #09 Family Farmers/Marquis Energy car. In the final practice last night he had the best 10 consecutive lap average speed of 169.577 mph. Not bad Kenny. We wish you and all the drivers a safe race today.
Here’s where my photos are being collected throughout the day and including tonight’s race: STP 300 Nationwide Series NASCAR Weekend Photos
The President of Marquis Energy is Mark Marquis, seen here introducing NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace to the crowd attending yesterday’s event held at the Hennepin ethanol plant. I spoke with Mark and learned that Marquis Energy is a real family type business that he had built after growing up on a family farm in this area and branching out into the grain business. In my interview with him you’ll hear him talk about plans to double the size of the Hennepin plant.
Mark is a Growth Energy board member. He says the organization saw the long term agreement with NASCAR as a great opportunity to help get in front of American consumers who will feel more confident about putting higher blends of ethanol in their cars after seeing how well it performs in the race cars. They’ve accomplished that through American Ethanol, a partnership with the National Corn Growers Association. The local NASCAR Nationwide Series STP 300 race on Saturday provided his company with an opportunity to make a special contribution to the effort. He says NASCAR is very popular with his employees and the farmers who send in about 150 trucks of corn a day to the plant. Mark Marquis Interview
I’ll be out on location this morning at Chicagoland Speedway getting my media credentials and checking out the action in preparation for tomorrow’s race.
You can hear Mark’s introduction of Kenny and Kenny’s remarks in this video clip:
We’ve all heard of Red Brand fence, right? They’re a milestone sponsor of the FFA (in fact they’ve been doing so for over 60 years).
Did you know that Red Brand fence is manufactured in Peoria, Ill.? Keystone Steel and Wire Co began the Home Grown program in 2010. It gave opportunity for local Red Brand retailers to give back to local FFA Chapters. In its first year – the Home Grown program raised over $100,000 for FFA Chapters across the United States. On average 704 FFA Chapters across the US received between $400 and $500 each. One FFA Chapter in Platte, South Dakota was awarded more than $4,000.00.
It’s actually a pretty simple process. As Christopher Bell, Regional Director with the National FFA Foundation explains all retailers have to do is sign up on Red Brand’s website and for every roll of Red Brand agricultural fencing purchased by a participating retailer $1 is donated to the designated FFA chapter or chapters of their choice.
It’s an easy way to give back and help continue to fund a program that does so much for the future of the agriculture industry. Also a huge round of applause to Keystone Steel and Wire Co for giving back to a program that does so much (it makes a girl even more proud to be from Central Illinois). Here’s to a successful 2011 Home Grown Initiative!
Cindy and I are going NASCAR this weekend with most of our activity being posted onto Domestic Fuel.com. I’ll start things off with the Nationwide Series STP 300 at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday with support from the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. Then Cindy will pick up at the Sprint Cup Series STP 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday with support from the National Corn Growers Association. I know you were wondering today, “Chuck seems quiet, must be traveling.” Yep. You got it.
I drove to Marquis Energy in Hennepin, IL for their Appreciation Day. The company is a major sponsor of the #09 car that Kenny Wallace will be driving in Joliet, IL on Saturday. Kenny and the actual car he’ll be driving (pictured) were on hand. So, there will be lots more to come over the next several days. In the meantime you can see photos, including more of the car and Kenny online: Marquis Energy Appreciation Day Photos.
In celebration of summer grilling season, the National Beef Checkoff is hitting the road with the American GrillMaster Experience BBQ Tour.
In partnership with Sam’s Club and the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), the American GrillMaster Experience, a beef BBQ demonstration and educational tour, will include beef grilling demonstrations, product samples, recipes and other checkoff resources designed to educate and inform consumers on grilling techniques. A total of 18 events will take place in the parking lots of Sam’s Clubs locations in 17 states from June through October.
“Mobile sampling and demonstration tours are fast becoming one of the most effective marketing platforms in America today. Savvy consumers demand to see, try, taste and experience products for themselves before they make purchase decisions,” says Jane Frost of New Mexico, vice chair of the checkoff’s Joint Retail Committee. “Connecting with consumers through promotional sampling in a fun and exciting environment proves to be one of the best ways to engage our target audience, promote our beef products and drive home our promotional messages that keep beef in the minds and in the shopping carts of our consumers.”
