Sylvie Willis
NASCAR vehicles use a specialized fuel called Sunoco Green E15, which is a blend of gasoline and ethanol. This fuel is specifically designed for the powerful engines of NASCAR stock cars and is priced significantly higher than regular gasoline. The cost of Sunoco Green E15 is approximately $16 to $17 per gallon, while regular gasoline in the US costs around $3.10 per gallon. However, it's worth noting that NASCAR teams often don't have to pay for their fuel due to sponsorships and partnerships, which can save them a substantial amount of money over the course of a season. The fuel tanks of the next-generation stock cars can hold about 18 US gallons, but teams carefully calculate the amount of fuel needed to optimize performance and minimize pit stops.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of NASCAR fuel | Sunoco Green E15 |
| Type of fuel | Unleaded racing fuel |
| Octane | 98 |
| Composition | Gasoline and ethanol blend |
| Ethanol percentage | 15% |
| Oxygen content | High |
| Container | 5-gallon pails |
| Container material | Opaque, tightly sealed |
| Storage temperature | Stable |
| Shelf life | More than 1 year |
| Price per gallon | $16-$17 |
| Price comparison to regular gas | Almost 6 times costlier |
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What You'll Learn
NASCAR fuel costs $16-$17 per gallon
NASCAR fuel, also known as Sunoco Green E15, costs $16-$17 per gallon. This is a specialized and filtered blend of gasoline and ethanol, with the ethanol component making up 15% of the fuel. This blend is designed to cater to the powerful engines of NASCAR vehicles and has been the official fuel of NASCAR since 2004.
The cost of NASCAR fuel is significantly higher than that of regular gasoline, which typically costs around $3.10 per gallon in the United States. This price difference highlights the specialized nature of racing fuel and the performance it enables in NASCAR vehicles.
NASCAR teams can obtain Sunoco Green E15 fuel from stations at the track, and it is also available for purchase in 5-gallon tanks or 55-gallon drums. The fuel is highly oxygenated, which can require fuel system modifications to achieve peak performance. It also has a comprehensive additive package that helps keep fuel systems clean and extends its shelf life to over a year when properly stored.
NASCAR teams can go through a significant amount of fuel during a season. Considering a regular NASCAR season includes 38 races ranging from 37 to 600 miles each, a team with four entries could easily cover over 52,000 miles in a season, requiring about 10,400 gallons of fuel, excluding practice and qualifying sessions. This high fuel consumption further emphasizes the importance of specialized and efficient racing fuel.
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Teams use 10,400 gallons per season
NASCAR teams use a specialized blend of gasoline and ethanol called Sunoco Green E15, which costs around $16-$17 per gallon—almost six times the cost of regular gasoline in the US, which is about $3.10 per gallon. This specialized fuel is necessary to cater to the needs of the powerful engines used in NASCAR racing, which have unique design and horsepower ratings.
A NASCAR team with four entries in events throughout the regular season, which holds 38 races ranging from 37 to 600 miles each, can expect to cover a total distance of 52,000 miles in a season. This translates to a fuel requirement of about 10,400 gallons, excluding fuel used during practice and qualifying sessions.
While the cost of fuel can be a significant expense for NASCAR teams, it is important to note that the amount of fuel used in a race can vary depending on fuel-saving measures employed by the teams. Strategies such as the lift-and-coast tactic or the use of strategic fuel modes can help reduce fuel consumption during a race. Additionally, the fuel tanks of next-generation stock cars hold approximately 18 US gallons of fuel, and teams typically aim to put in just enough fuel to complete the laps before returning to the pit lane for a refuel.
NASCAR rules also allow teams to fill their cars with as much fuel as they want before a race and permit refuelling during pit stops. These factors can further impact the total fuel usage of a NASCAR team throughout a season.
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Sunoco Green E15 is a highly oxygenated fuel
NASCAR fuel, Sunoco Green E15, is a highly oxygenated unleaded race fuel. It contains 15% ethanol, which is a higher volume than in regular fuel. This means that fuel system changes may be required to get the best performance from the Green E15. Sunoco Green E15 is available in 5-gallon pails, 55-gallon drums, and kegs or IBC totes. It is delivered to the track, your home, office, or hotel. The fuel has a shelf life of over 1 year when stored in opaque, tightly sealed containers in a place with stable temperatures.
Sunoco Green E15 is priced at $16-$17 per gallon, which is almost six times the cost of regular gas in the US, which is around $3.10 per gallon. However, NASCAR teams do not purchase their fuel, so they do not have to bear this additional cost, which would amount to around $175,000 per year for main events.
Sunoco has been NASCAR's official fuel provider since 2004. It is the exclusive fuel provider for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR XFINITY Series, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Sunoco has been fuelling top racecar drivers worldwide for over 50 years with high-quality performance fuels.
Sunoco Green E15 contains a comprehensive additive package that helps keep fuel systems clean, enhances shelf life, and reduces fuel system deposits. It has a minimum purchase requirement of 5 gallons, with discounts available for purchases of 55 gallons or more.
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NASCAR teams can fill up as much as they want
NASCAR teams can fill up their cars with as much fuel as they want before a race. This is in contrast to Formula 1, which has set a limit on the amount of fuel that can be used per race since 2019—110 kilograms, with no mid-race refuelling allowed. NASCAR teams can also refuel during pit stops.
NASCAR fuel is a specialised blend of gasoline and ethanol, called Sunoco Green E15, or just Green E15, due to its green colour. It is highly oxygenated and contains 15% ethanol. Sunoco has been NASCAR's official fuel since 2004 and is the exclusive fuel provider for all three national racing series: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The fuel is available in 5-gallon tanks and 55-gallon drums, with prices around $8.75 per gallon from race shops. However, the fuel obtained from Sonoco stations at the track costs $16 to $17 per gallon, almost six times the usual price of fuel in the US, which is around $3.10 per gallon.
Despite the high cost of fuel, NASCAR teams do not have to pay for it. As Dave Alpern, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, said:
> Fortunately, we get our fuel for free. So we actually spend zero dollars a year on race fuel.
Considering a single NASCAR Cup Series car used around 125 gallons of fuel during the 2015 Daytona 500 weekend, and the team has four entries in those events, this amounts to significant savings for the team.
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Green E15 costs six times more than regular fuel
NASCAR vehicles use a unique blend of gasoline and ethanol known as Sunoco Green E15, or simply Green E15, due to its distinct green colour. This fuel is specifically designed to meet the demands of powerful stock car engines throughout the entire season. The cost of Green E15 fuel is significantly higher than that of regular fuel, with a notable price difference.
In the United States, the cost of regular gasoline typically ranges from $3.10 to $3.60 per gallon. In contrast, the specialised Green E15 fuel used in NASCAR can cost up to $16 to $17 per gallon. This price discrepancy makes Green E15 almost six times more expensive than the standard fuel options available in the country.
The reason for the higher cost of Green E15 fuel can be attributed to its specialised nature and performance-enhancing properties. Green E15 is a highly oxygenated unleaded racing fuel that contains 15% ethanol. This higher oxygen content can require fuel system modifications to achieve optimal performance. Additionally, Green E15 includes a comprehensive additive package that helps maintain fuel system cleanliness, prolongs shelf life, and minimises fuel system deposits. These additional additives and performance enhancements contribute to the higher cost of this specialised racing fuel.
NASCAR teams can acquire Green E15 fuel in various quantities, including 5-gallon tanks and 55-gallon drums, directly from Sonoco stations at the track. It's important to note that NASCAR teams have the freedom to fill their cars with as much fuel as needed before a race and can also refuel during pit stops. This flexibility in fuel strategy allows teams to optimise their performance and make strategic decisions based on their fuel usage.
While the cost of Green E15 fuel is substantially higher than regular fuel, it is worth noting that NASCAR teams may receive fuel sponsorships or waivers that alleviate the financial burden. In some cases, teams may even obtain their fuel for free, eliminating the additional expense of race fuel. Nonetheless, the significant price difference between Green E15 and regular fuel underscores the specialised nature and performance advantages of this racing fuel.
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Frequently asked questions
NASCAR fuel, Sunoco Green E15, costs $16-$17 per gallon, which is almost six times the cost of regular fuel in the US.
It is difficult to determine the total fuel usage of a NASCAR car in a race as teams can fill as much fuel as they want before the race and can also refuel during pit stops. However, a single NASCAR Cup Series car used approximately 125 gallons of Sunoco Green E15 during the 2015 Daytona 500 weekend.
A NASCAR team with four entries might need about 10,400 gallons of fuel for the regular NASCAR season, excluding practice and qualifying sessions.
NASCAR fuel can be purchased online in 5-gallon tanks or 55-gallon drums and is also sold by some race shops by the gallon.
