The fuel used at any given time has a major impact on both your wallet and the environment. If you’re searching for an automotive fuel that is both affordable and has minimal impacts, then look no further as you’ve found it. That is, of course, unless you happen to be racing at Sunshine Speedway, in which case you should probably be looking more closely at your wallet.
Sunshine, Florida
If you’ve driven down I-95 in the past, then you’ve probably noticed something different about the southern part as compared to the northern part. For one thing, there are a lot more tree huggers down here, which is apparent by the occasional Earth Day billboard and bumper sticker spliced in between all the Southern Comfort billboards.
That might be a stereotype, but it’s still true. Located in southern Florida, which also happens to be the southern part of the United States, it is the southernmost Motorsports Park in the United States. It is owned by Rick Hendrick, who also happens to be the majority share owner of NASCAR Inc. As the name would suggest, the NASCAR tracks in Nashville and Chattanooga are the other two main ones, with the season wrapping up at Indianapolis in November. The rest of the year is Dixie Chick Festival time, which for the past fifty years has marked the start of the NASCAR season.
The racing at Sunshine Street Speedway is open to the public, but it is really dominated by day-to-day local residents. There is an average of approximately 3800 car entries per annual race, most of which are for various karting races and tournaments. The professional races, which include the NASCAR and Sprint Cup (formerly Coca-Cola Night Race), attract an average of 12000 spectators and 5000 TV viewers on weekends. The other major race, the Busch Light Outdoor National Grass Rally, is open to all vehicles and features more than 1000 participants. The events at Sunshine Street Speedway are hugely popular and actively supported by the local residents, with more than 1800 cars parked outside the track during the busch light race, as part of a weekly average of 4000 cars.
Affordability
If you compare the cost of fuel per mile at Sunshine Street Speedway to other racing stages in the country, you’ll notice a major difference. The gas costs around $0.73 per mile at Sunshine, which is cheaper than most other racing stages, such as Nashville and Chattanooga, where fuel costs around $1 per mile.
You can’t beat the price of gas down there. The savings are significant, especially if you look at the total cost of ownership over the life of the vehicle.
Minimal Impacts
As mentioned, the fuel used at Sunshine Street Speedway has a significant impact on both your wallet and the environment. One of the reasons for its relatively cheap price is that it is produced locally in Florida, so there is no need to transport it across the country. It is also often the case that only the owners and their families live in the immediate area, so there aren’t a lot of cars on the road, as it is.
That last fact is probably the most significant one. The fewer cars there are on the roads, the less impact there is from fuel transportation, which is a double bonus for both your wallet and the environment. Less cars = cheaper gas = savings for all.
Final Takeaway
If you’ve ever shopped for gas, then you know how expensive it can be. It’s no secret that the cost of fuel is going up, especially since 2007, which is the last year for which we have data. The good news is that there are alternatives, like the fuel we discussed earlier. If you’re looking for a fuel that is both affordable and has minimal environmental impacts, then consider the fuel used at Sunshine Street Speedway.