Racing isn’t just about speed. It’s about what powers it.
In Episode 27 of SPEED with Harvick & Buxton, listeners will hear from NASCAR legend Richard Childress and Dr. Andy Randolph as they dig into the evolution of racing, the early days of innovation at Richard Childress Racing (RCR), and why bioethanol has proven itself as a superior fuel — both on the track and on the road.
The episode carries an added layer of connection: co-host Kevin Harvick got his start racing for RCR, bringing a firsthand perspective to the conversation and a deep appreciation for the team’s legacy of performance and innovation.
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Meet the Guests
Richard Childress
Richard Childress is the founder and chairman of Richard Childress Racing, one of NASCAR’s most successful and influential organizations. Beyond racing, Childress has also been a longtime advocate for biofuels through his leadership with Growth Energy, a trade association representing the biofuels industry and helping lead efforts around E15 education and access.
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Dr. Andy Randolph
Dr. Andy Randolph served as the Technical Fellow for Earnhart Childress Racing (ECR) Engines, where he helped drive innovation in bioethanol use and technology development. He has a PhD in Chemical Engineering, and his work spans decades of fuel and engine research, helping advance performance and efficiency through biofuel solutions.
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Built for Performance: RCR’s Early Bioethanol Leadership
Long before bioethanol became standard in NASCAR, RCR was already pushing boundaries. Through Earnhardt Childress Racing Engines (ECR), engineers conducted extensive testing on bioethanol, uncovering key advantages that would ultimately reshape the sport.
Their findings were clear: bioethanol delivers higher octane, burns cooler, and produces cleaner combustion than traditional fuels. Those characteristics don’t just improve engine performance—they enhance durability and efficiency under the most demanding racing conditions.
“The thing about ethanol is we’ve ran almost 25 million miles without a single failure because of fuel,” said Childress.
That early work helped pave the way for NASCAR’s adoption of E15 in 2011. Since then, NASCAR has logged more than 25 million miles on E15, proving its reliability and performance at the highest level of motorsports. And now bioethanol is fueling a new era of lower-emission, high-performance racing, with POET Zero Carbon Bioethanol powering every mile.
Dr. Randolph explained why fuel quality has always been central to engine performance.
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“Consider the fuel like the blood in your body. You want the blood in your body to be the best it can be because that’s going to make you the best you can be. That’s the way we treat the fuel in an engine.”
From the Racetrack to the Road
What works at 200 miles per hour works just as well on Main Street. E15 is an affordable, high-octane fuel available at the pump today, giving everyday drivers access to the same benefits proven on the track.
Tune In
Don’t miss Wednesday, May 13th’s Episode of SPEED with Harvick & Buxton to hear directly from Richard Childress and Dr. Andy Randolph on racing history, cutting-edge fuel innovation, and the future of American energy.
Watch on YouTube and Fox Sports or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
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