Roush Fenway Racing and Ford Take Propane Autogas for a Test Drive in 2011

As the 2011 NASCAR season opens at Daytona International Speedway, race fans will see even more ‘green’ on the track when Ford Motor Company and ROUSH CleanTech roll out two environmentally friendly Track Services trucks. Two Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup trucks equipped with the ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system will be tested in the sport’s fleet of emergency vehicles throughout the 2011 season.

“NASCAR is famous for serving as a proving ground for new technology,” said Jack Roush. “It is a privilege to show race fans and the sport what we at ROUSH CleanTech know about clean alternative fuels. Propane autogas is already the third most widely used fuel in the world. It’s readily available in the U.S., and we’re ready to test it as a workhorse on the track this season.”


Beyond this test in its Track Service vehicles, NASCAR has put significant emphasis on conservation with measurable initiatives on and off the track, including switching to Sunoco Green E15 race fuel made with American ethanol in its three national series; recycling all tires, oils, fluids, and batteries used in competition; rolling out the largest bottle-and-can event recycling program in sports; launching the largest tree-planting program in sports to neutralize all the carbon produced by Sprint Cup Series racing; and attaining LEED certification for new office buildings in Charlotte and Daytona Beach.


“Green is not an exclusively NASCAR-led initiative,” said Dr. Mike Lynch, managing director of green innovation for NASCAR. “It takes the efforts of our entire industry contributing to and collaborating on new initiatives such as this.”


ROUSH CleanTech’s propane autogas-powered vehicles lower emissions fuel costs while maintaining the vehicle’s factory warranty coverage and trademark durability. Research shows propane autogas burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel, with up to 20 percent less nitrogen oxide, up to 60 percent less carbon monoxide, up to 24 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and fewer particulate emissions when compared to gasoline.


“ROUSH CleanTech is driven to win the alternative fuels race with a lineup of propane autogas-powered Ford vehicles unparalleled in performance, dependability, and environmental soundness,” said Joe Thompson, president of ROUSH CleanTech. “Our propane autogas-fueled trucks impart green power at peak performance, and we can’t wait to showcase that to the millions of NASCAR fans across the nation.”

The test trucks, featuring the ROUSH CleanTech logo on their back quarter panel behind the tires, are a sample of what is currently driving into the market now. ROUSH CleanTech has a growing list of fleets adopting their propane autogas fuel system for Ford trucks and vans. Starting with 2012 models, the ROUSH CleanTech system will be available directly from the factory, ordered as an option on Ford’s F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickup truck models.