The Council for Responsible Sport awarded a Silver certification to the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart becomes the second NASCAR event to earn this distinction behind the 2021 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, certified earlier this year.
The Council for Responsible Sport is a not-for-profit organization with a vision to “embrace purpose through play” by certifying sporting events that have made progress to reduce their environmental footprint and increase positive impacts on their local communities and society.
“We are proud to be recognized by the Council for Responsible Sport as a certified responsible sporting event,” said AMS Executive Vice President Brandon Hutchison. “Our team works hard to collaborate with our partners and take positive action with events like the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart. We’re committed to hosting entertaining events while also taking steps towards a safer, healthier world.”
Through the independent third-party assessment and certification process, points are rewarded to events for: reducing and offsetting their carbon footprint, improving their water footprint, encouraging use of alternative transportation (i.e. mass transit), reducing printed materials, locally sourcing food and beverage, recycling, partnering with local non-profits, and addressing other environmental and social impacts.
“Race fans love racing, and we’ve learned they also care about the environment,” said Bree Sandlin, Vice President, Shell Lubricants North America Marketing. “Shell continues to work with our customers and industry partners so we all make progress together in the sustainability journey. We are proud of the collaboration with Speedway Motorsports and Atlanta Motor Speedway leadership for taking broad and measurable actions to secure Silver Certification for the Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart.”
“Achieving Council for Responsible Sport Certification reflects the outstanding commitment and focus of both the whole team in Atlanta along with continued support of Shell to change the way races are staged,” said Kevin Phelan, Board Member for the Council.
The Council has helped to measure, manage, and verify the social and environmental impacts of events since 2007 with a focus on five pillars: planning & communications, procurement, resource management, access & equity, and community legacy.
“Certification reflects not only the clear desire to deliver the event in a more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable way but reflects the hard work and actions that deliver real change," added Phelan. "The Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart should be proud of this achievement.”
