Carfax today expanded its historic carbon neutral initiative at Michigan International Speedway to include the first-ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. Carfax, lead sponsor of the No. 28 Ford participating in the 3M Performance 400 on Aug. 17, will offset all carbon emissions generated by the car from race activities that day, marking the first time a Sprint Cup Series car will be carbon neutral for an event.

In addition, the NASCAR Nationwide Series CARFAX 250 on Aug. 16 will be carbon neutral via a donation to The Conservation Fund to offset the carbon dioxide that results from the race, including the energy use at the venue, the gasoline used by the race cars during the race, employee and fan travel, hotel stays, and camping generators.

Carfax offset more than 4,200 tons of carbon emissions from last year’s NASCAR Busch Series CARFAX 250, making it the first carbon neutral stock car event in history. MIS and The Conservation Fund have partnered with Carfax in support of this year’s effort.

“Last year’s race was a great first step toward reducing our carbon footprint,” said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. “With the support of our partners, we’re expanding our efforts beyond the CARFAX 250 and into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to continue that success. We realize there’s a lot of work still to be done, but it’s important that people see how easy it is to make a positive impact on global climate change.”

To symbolize the joint initiative and commemorate Michigan International Speedway’s 40th anniversary this season, Carfax and MIS will plant 40 trees outside of the racetrack.

“We applaud our partner’s shared concern for environmental issues and view their approach as one of the many options available to help mitigate environmental impacts,” Michigan International Speedway President Roger Curtis said. “At MIS, our efforts, at least initially, are focused on reducing the immediate impacts from our operations and events through broad-based recycling efforts, partnerships with local governments and agencies to identify more efficient means of operation, pursuing renewable power sources and through conservation efforts.”

Carfax is making a donation to The Conservation Fund to purchase and retire carbon offsets for its operations and activities associated with the NASCAR Nationwide Series CARFAX 250 and the Carfax-sponsored Sprint Cup car.

“Habitat loss and climate change are two of the greatest environmental challenges of our time,” said The Conservation Fund’s President Larry Selzer. “Now more than ever, addressing these challenges will require a mix of public and private financing. The Fund applauds Carfax for its industry-leading commitment to offset the CARFAX 250 and its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. Carfax’s support will result in the restoration of more than 4,300 trees at one of our nation’s most sensitive National Wildlife Refuges – creating new wildlife habitat, cleaning our air, and enhancing public recreation areas we can all enjoy.”