Why NASCAR Is a Big Win for Iowa Corn
Farm4Profit heads to Iowa Speedway for the Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol to find out how 700-horsepower race cars could help create more demand for one of Iowa farmers’ biggest products: corn.
Joining the conversation are Craig Floss, CEO of Iowa Corn, and Eric Petersen, President of Iowa Speedway, for a discussion covering NASCAR, ethanol, corn demand, international markets and the future of racing in Iowa.
Why Iowa Corn Invests in NASCAR
At first glance, cornfields and NASCAR may seem like two very different worlds. But for Iowa Corn, motorsports provide an opportunity to take the ethanol story far beyond the farm.
NASCAR has raced on E15 since 2011, giving ethanol a high-performance proving ground in one of America's most recognizable motorsports.
Craig explains why that matters.
Reaching NASCAR fans allows Iowa Corn to connect with consumers who may have little connection to production agriculture while demonstrating that ethanol isn't simply an agricultural product—it's a fuel capable of performing under extreme racing conditions.
That visibility can ultimately help accomplish a much bigger goal: creating additional demand for corn.
The Bigger Opportunity for Ethanol
The ethanol conversation extends well beyond Iowa Speedway.
Craig discusses the growing international market for U.S. ethanol, including opportunities in countries around the world and particularly in Southeast Asia.
As countries look for additional fuel options, Iowa Corn sees exports as another opportunity to increase ethanol consumption and create another destination for U.S. corn.
At home, the push continues for greater access to E15 and potentially even higher ethanol blends in the future.
The group also discusses efforts surrounding high-ethanol farm equipment and what greater ethanol adoption could mean for farmers.
The equation is straightforward: more ethanol demand can mean more corn demand.
For producers facing tight margins and volatile commodity markets, developing additional uses for corn could have a meaningful impact on long-term profitability.
What’s Ahead for Iowa Speedway
The episode also takes listeners behind the scenes at Iowa Speedway.
Eric Petersen shares what it takes to transform the facility into a major NASCAR venue, despite having only nine full-time employees throughout much of the year.
The Speedway has now experienced three consecutive NASCAR sellouts, demonstrating just how much enthusiasm there is for racing in Iowa.
And major changes are coming.
Eric discusses plans for a complete track repave, including the enormous amount of planning and work required to rebuild a racing surface capable of handling NASCAR competition.
He also shares exciting news for Iowa racing fans: NASCAR will return to Iowa Speedway over Independence Day weekend in 2027.
When Corn Meets 700 Horsepower
From international ethanol exports to high-performance race cars, this conversation highlights the many different ways Iowa Corn is working to build demand.
NASCAR gives the organization an opportunity to connect agriculture with millions of consumers while demonstrating ethanol performance in an environment where performance matters.
And while fans may disagree about which driver they want to see in victory lane, Craig says there's another winner every time the cars hit the track.
Ethanol and Iowa corn farmers win every race.
Listen to the full Farm4Profit conversation from Iowa Speedway to hear more about NASCAR, ethanol, the future of corn demand and what's next for racing in Iowa.
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