Traveling the world without going anywhere. On a weekend on the edge of “Earth Day”, this seems largely appropriate.

It is racing across state, cultural and international lines through the convenience of a wide screen HDTV in the living room. The variety of the countryside and the racing is incredible.

Sports cars rattled the streets of Long Beach, CA., with American Le Mans. On the eastern side of the U.S., Grand-Am was at Road Atlanta. Formula 1 was racing near the Persian Gulf in Bahrain. NASCAR was in the open spaces of Kansas. The NHRA was chasing speed in Charlotte. IndyCar followed up back at Long beach.

That is just a highlight of some of the major series. Racing in the streets. Racing across the ocean. Racing in the wide, open spaces. The diversity of scenery and personalities presented in a blur of the background.

However, as we turn towards what is regarded as “Earth Day”, too many people still look at auto racing with prejudice and scorn. They only see burnt fuel and beer-topped fans.

OK… We’ll give a bit on the beer. There is a lot of beer and a lot of fans oblivious to the much of the nuance of racing. They see the speed, hear the noise, cheer for their driver and go home.

Beyond what many can still point to with a stereotype of racing fans, auto racing is doing fantastic things with technology and intelligence. Racing is making great moves toward the environmentally friendly and for their efforts, the “social elites” still look down their noses and only see racing as it was many years ago.

As “Earth Day” plays out, racing is doing much more to reach the uninformed. Publicity campaigns and events are showcasing racing with innovation.

Here are some highlights:

  • Sports car racing (Grand-Am, American Le Mans, etc) are racing diesels and hybrids testing technology for the street, increasing power and extending mileage while showcasing lighter materials, “green” manufacturing and alternative fuels.
  • Formula 1 is using hybrid technology to store re-useable energy in braking systems and acceleration. Building techniques push the limits of technology and smaller, more powerful engines are pushing fuel standards.
  • NASCAR is showcasing itself with large scale recycling, bio-fuels, solar energy and aerodynamic shells designed in conjunction with the manufacturers for the showroom versions of the race cars.

Racing is moving forward with these steps and others not because of mandates and regulation but on their own. They are embracing the philosophies and technologies in order to move the sport forward. They are on the cutting edge of the technology, the mindset and the movement, in many ways, leading the charge forward to the green and white checkered flag.

Anyone still taking shots at the old “red neck” stereotype should be able to easily see the moves forward by the sport of auto racing. All they have to do is the same thing they too quickly accuse “racing fans” of not doing…

Read.