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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2010

Ethanol USA Racecar Back on Track for Iowa Corn Indy 250

New Sponsorship Deal Ensures US Corn Ethanol Has a

Presence on Outside of Racecar – Not Just in the Tank

JOHNSTON, IA – Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today announced it has joined with other members of the ethanol industry to bring an ethanol-themed racecar back to the IndyCar Series for the first time this year – just in time for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Newton, Iowa on June 20.  The #37 Ethanol USA-Team IZOD car from Andretti Autosport, driven by Ryan Hunter-Reay, will sport the large ethanol “e” on the side along with “made in USA.”

“Thanks to the Iowa Corn Growers, every car in the Iowa Corn Indy 250 will have US corn ethanol on the inside.  But with the ethanol consortium, now car #37 will have US corn ethanol on the outside!” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw.  “IRFA is very proud to play a small role in bringing the Ethanol USA racecar back to the IndyCar Series.  My hat goes off to ICM and Green Plains for being the driving force to make this happen.”

              The lead sponsors for the Ethanol USA racecar are ICM, Inc. and Green Plains Renewable Energy.  ICM, of Kansas, provides engineering and design services to ethanol plants.  Green Plains, of Nebraska, owns several ethanol plants, including two in Iowa, and markets ethanol for additional plants.  Joining ICM and Green Plains as supporting sponsors are the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Fremont Industries, and Hawkeye Gold.  Fremont Industries provides water treatment solutions to ethanol plants and Hawkeye Gold markets ethanol and distillers grains for numerous ethanol plants.

During the 2008 and 2009 race seasons, a consortium of ethanol industry participants sponsored a racecar driven by Hunter-Reay.  Prior to the Iowa Corn Indy 250, Hunter-Reay’s primary sponsor was IZOD.  He is currently 6th in the points, having won a race earlier in the season.

           Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production.  Iowa has 39 ethanol refineries capable of producing nearly 3.3 billion gallons annually. In addition, Iowa has 14 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 320 million gallons annually.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.

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For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at:  www.IowaRFA.org