• by Tanya Gazdik , April 23, 2017

Just in time for Earth Day, NASCAR announced its fifth annual “Race to Green” initiative. 

The initiative runs through the Toyota Owners 400 on April 30. The effort aims to build awareness around the programs NASCAR and its partners have developed to help reduce its carbon footprint.

The campaign includes a call-to-action for fans and the industry to donate trees that will be planted across the country as well as in areas recently devastated by natural disasters. Fans can visit NASCAR.com/green to donate trees -- $1 per tree for a 2- to-3-foot sapling -- to be planted in those areas with the support of the Arbor Day Foundation. Fans are encouraged to share their own efforts around being green by using the hashtag #NASCARGreen.

The NASCAR Green microsite was redesigned by NASCAR Digital Media and includes news and an interactive carbon calculator. NASCAR Green debuted a new TV spot April 21 from 77 Ventures featuring a newly created NASCAR Green logo along with info on the initiatives the sports has undertaken to be more earth-friendly. 

Other events surrounding the initiative include:

• NASCAR is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation with the commitment to donate trees to Tennessee residents affected by the Chimney Tops 2 Fire in November 2016. NASCAR will match the donations made by its Official Partners. As part of the 16th annual Comcast Cares Day, 
• NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers will join Comcast volunteers for a Habitat for Humanity event in Johnson City, Tenn. NASCAR will donate trees for the newly built homes.
• In partnership with Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Elliot Sadler will visit Oak Mountain Elementary School in Birmingham, Alabama to donate 750 tree saplings provided by NASCAR and the Arbor Day Foundation. 
• Pocono Raceway will release a Sustainability Report that details the initiatives it has in place to be environmentally responsible, including its recycling program and solar farm.
• On Friday, Danica Patrick helped Mobil 1 spotlight its Mobil 1  Annual Protection, allowing drivers to go one full year -- or 20,000 miles -- between oil changes, with a ceremonial pour at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Drivers have racked up more than 10 million competition miles on Sunoco Green E15, demonstrating that the ethanol blended biofuel stands up to high performance racing while significantly reducing emissions. Safety-Kleen delivers its oil recycling and re-refining services to the track each weekend, ensuring all cleaning solvents, oil, fluids and lubricants are recaptured and incorporated into useable products.

NASCAR also features many teams and tracks using solar power as a renewable energy source, including: Daytona International Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Sonoma Raceway, Roush Fenway Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports.