NASCAR and POET Drive Towards a Zero-Carbon Future with Bioethanol

NASCAR is accelerating its commitment to sustainability by partnering with POET, a global biofuels leader, to utilize zero-carbon bioethanol in its race fuel. This groundbreaking collaboration, announced February 13, 2026, marks the first time a major motorsports series will incorporate zero-carbon bioethanol into its competition fuel blend, alongside Sunoco’s supply.

A New Era of Racing Fuel

The partnership centers around POET’s innovative approach to bioethanol production, achieving zero-carbon emissions throughout the entire lifecycle – from seed to tailpipe. “Zero-carbon bioethanol truly changes the game, and POET is proud to power a new era of high-intensity, low-carbon racing with NASCAR,” stated a representative from POET in a NASCAR press release.

How POET Achieves Zero-Carbon Bioethanol

POET’s success in creating zero-carbon bioethanol relies on three key strategies:

• Regenerative Agricultural Practices: Implementing farming methods that improve soil health and carbon sequestration.
• Advanced Bioprocessing Technology: Utilizing cutting-edge biotechnology to optimize bioethanol production.
• BioCO2 Capture and Utilization: Capturing carbon dioxide produced during fermentation and finding beneficial uses for it.

These strategies work together to significantly reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of POET’s bioethanol. CI is calculated using models like Argonne National Laboratory’s 2025 GREET model, which assesses emissions at every stage of the bioethanol lifecycle – from planting and harvesting to processing, transportation, and co-product utilization. POET’s website details this process.

NASCAR’s Commitment to Sustainability

“The partnership with POET reflects our commitment to leverage our platform as a real-world proving ground for innovation,” said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR Chief Impact Officer. Performance Racing Industry reports that this collaboration will aid drive performance both on and off the track.

Through its NASCAR IMPACT program, the sanctioning body is actively investing in solutions that minimize environmental impact while demonstrating the compatibility of sustainability and high-performance racing.

Beyond the Track: Sponsorship and Branding

The partnership extends beyond the fuel itself. POET will be the sponsor of the “POET Restart Zone” at all NASCAR-owned tracks, highlighting the brand during key moments of each race. POET Zero Carbon Bioethanol branding will be prominently displayed on all NASCAR fuel cans, alongside Sunoco, further integrating bioethanol into the sport’s identity. POET is proud to be the first official bioethanol partner of NASCAR.

Expanding Reach and Impact

POET, which produces over 3 billion gallons of bioethanol annually, anticipates increased visibility and opportunities as a result of the NASCAR partnership. Jeff Broin, POET founder and CEO, noted a considerable increase in web traffic and heightened interest from auto manufacturers, agricultural equipment companies, marine industries, and other energy sector players. POET currently operates plants in nine states and terminals in three additional states.

Commercial Availability and Future Growth

The same zero-carbon fuel powering NASCAR is commercially available, with strong interest from markets like California, Europe, and Canada, as well as companies seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. POET recently acquired a 120-million-gallon-per-year bioethanol plant in Tennessee and is planning a $200 million expansion of its facility in Shelbyville, Indiana, signaling continued growth and innovation. POET continues to develop new products and processes with a team of 2,600 people.