Carbon Offset
NASCAR partnered with Michigan International Speedway in June 2009 for its “NASCAR Green Clean Air” program to help capture the carbon emissions produced by racing. Together they will be planting a total of 40 trees on the MIS property during fall 2009. This breaks down to 10 trees for every green flag waved for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during the June 2009 MIS race weekend. MIS is one of eleven tracks piloting NASCAR Green Clean Air.
CARFAX: Since 2007, Carfax has been one of Michigan International Speedway’s leading sponsors. Carfax was the title sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series races held at MIS in August of 2007 and 2008, for which they worked to neutralize the carbon emissions caused by the racecars.
Both MIS and Carfax share a passion for preserving the environment which helped lead to the “Show Me the CARFAX Race Weekend” at MIS in August 2009. Prior to the weekend, the partners announced they would, in conjunction with The Conservation Fund, help neutralize the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from energy and auto use during the race weekend to help curb climate change and restore habitat for wildlife.
Carfax and MIS worked with The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero® program to zero out the CO2 emissions that result from the facility’s energy use during the race weekend and fuel used by fans traveling to and from the festivities. The effort also covered the emissions from the race cars during both NASCAR events at MIS — the CARFAX 400 Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday and CARFAX 250 Nationwide Series race on Saturday, and qualifying and practice sessions on Friday and Saturday.
Nearly 4,000 trees will be planted at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Missouri as part of Carfax and Michigan International Speedway’s efforts. Carfax was founded in Missouri and its data center is located in Columbia, Missouri.
MIS efforts
Michigan International Speedway took part in The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program over the August 2009 Show Me the CARFAX Race Weekend.
The Conservation Fund estimated that the carbon dioxide emissions that result from the fuel used by the race cars during the 2009 Show Me the CARFAX Weekend: Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series practice and qualifying sessions, as well as the emissions resulting from 450,000 kWh of electricity and 110 therms of natural gas to be approximately 373 short tons of CO2. During the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series practice and qualifying sessions, the racecars ran an estimated 16, 419 miles.
MIS offset these carbon dioxide emissions with a donation to The Conservation Fund. In return, The Conservation Fund will plant approximately 311 native trees in Mingo National Wildlife Refuge in order to trap carbon dioxide, filter water, control flooding, create new habitat for wildlife and public recreation areas.
