A first for Atmos Energy and NASCAR
Atmos Energy’s 2012 Honda Civic will be leading a pack of professional
racers who are vying to become the next NASCAR “All-Star” this Saturday,
May 5, at the grand opening of the Revolution Park Racing and
Entertainment Complex.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity to drive the first natural gas-powered
pace car in a NASCAR race,” Atmos Energy service technician turned
pace-car driver Greg Martin said. “I’ve worked at race tracks since I
was a teenager. Now, I get to be even closer to the action - behind the
wheel of a pace car… wow!”
Dozens of professional racers will follow Martin and his natural gas
pace car during the Bumper to Bumper Pro Late Model Series at Revolution
Park. It is part of the NASCAR “Whelen All American Series” allowing
drivers to be eligible for NASCAR’s national championship program for
weekly racing.
“More than 5,000 people are expected to attend this weekend’s race and
will be watching our natural gas vehicle circle the track,” Martin said.
“That’s a lot of attention on a car that is becoming the cleanest
vehicle of the future.”
Atmos Energy and many other companies are converting their fleet
vehicles to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), a highly pressurized
version of the same clean-burning natural gas used in many homes and
businesses. It performs the same as a gasoline vehicle, but the fuel and
maintenance costs are much lower. Plus a CNG vehicle is better for the
environment because it produces fewer carbon emissions.
“Another amazing component of this car is its safety record,” Atmos
Energy’s Mike DeArmond said. “Unlike the volatile combustion caused by
gasoline leaks – natural gas will actually dissipate into the air in the
event of an accident or tank rupture, which is especially important when
it’s on a NASCAR race track.”
Revolution Park spokesman Doug Branch says the decision to make Atmos
Energy’s natural gas car the track’s pace car was easy.
“It aligns perfectly with our goal of providing an exciting fan
experience, yet keeping in mind our responsibility to the environment,”
Branch said. “At Revolution Park, we are proud to wave a checkered flag
and an environmentally friendly green flag!”
About Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is tone of the
country’s largest natural-gas-only distributors, serving more than 3
million natural gas distribution customers in more than 1,600
communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to
the Rocky Mountains in the West. Visit, www.atmosenergy.com.
About Revolution Park
Revolution Park Racing and Entertainment Complex is located in Monroe,
Louisiana and is NASCAR’s only sanctioned race track in the state.
Visit, www.revolutionparkentertainment.com
