Ohio Farmer and Five-Time World Champion Race Car Driver Urges Congress to Push Renewable Fuels Standard and Tax Changes Over the Finish Line

Ethanol-Powered Funny Car Racer Joins RFA and NCGA at Capitol Hill Event

WASHINGTON, DC - Mark Thomas, 5-time International Hot Rod Association
(IHRA) Funny Car champion brought his ethanol-powered drag car to Capitol Hill to promote ethanol with the Renewable Fuels Association
(RFA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). When not racing, Mark is part of a family farm operation in Louisville, Ohio where he farms over 2300 acres of corn, soybeans and forage and milks over 900 head of Holstein cows.

"Mark's success on the track is a vivid example of ethanol's high performance capabilities," said RFA President Bob Dinneen. "Performance combined with numerous environmental benefits is why ethanol is often called the 'fuel of the future.' To ensure that future, we continue to work with a bipartisan group of House and Senate leaders to push a robust renewable fuels standard (RFS) and important tax modifications, like the volumetric ethanol excise tax credit (VEETC) and small ethanol producer tax credit, over the finish line. While there are only a few legislative days left before the election, we strongly believe these national priorities can be put into law. After all, as Mark has shown repeatedly, when powered by ethanol you can get things done in a big hurry."

Mark Thomas added: "It's important for Congress to hear about ethanol from someone on the front line. I grow corn and I burn ethanol in my race car. The 'Ethanol Performs' car helps spread the pro-ethanol message to race fans across the country. Today, we used it to raise awareness of ethanol on Capitol Hill."

Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) joined Dinneen, Thomas, NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett, and the Ohio Corn Growers Association represented by Mike Wagner at the event promoting ethanol legislation.

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