Part of NASCAR IMPACT’s Sustainability Strategy, Program is Expected to Recycle Nearly 80,000 Pounds of Food Waste Estimated at 2025 Races
RUSSELLVILLE, AR – Feb. 13, 2025 – National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (“NASCAR”), Levy and Denali, the nation’s largest organic recycler, today announced they will collaborate to recycle the leftover or uneaten food following NASCAR Cup Series™ events at NASCAR-owned tracks across the U.S. during the 2025 racing season. Denali helps fight climate change by diverting organic waste from landfills and transforming it into valuable nutrients for agriculture and horticulture.
“Denali is on a mission to replenish the earth by repurposing organic waste into valuable resources,” said Eric Speiser, Denali’s Chief Revenue Officer. “Working with sports organizations like NASCAR allows us to make a significant impact on the environment while helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals and contribute to a cleaner future.”
“NASCAR is proud to announce this national food recycling program across 11 of NASCAR’s owned tracks – one that we believe is among the first major sports leagues to take a nationwide approach to recycling food,” said Riley Nelson, NASCAR’s Head of Sustainability. “In 2024, NASCAR recycled nearly 57,000 pounds of food from events across the country, and we look forward to building on that momentum in 2025.”
Sporting events of a large scale such as NASCAR races generate an average of 5,000 pounds of food waste per event. As a first step, NASCAR works strategically with Levy to donate provisions to support food insecure families in local communities. In 2024, Levy facilitated the donation of 13,520 pounds of food following NASCAR Cup Series™ races.
For food that cannot be donated, Denali collects this unconsumed food and gives it a new purpose, recycling it into compost, nutrient-rich soils, natural fertilizer and animal feed. Together, NASCAR, Levy and Denali will recycle an estimated 80,000 pounds of food waste into usable products in 2025. This amounts to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 26.14 metric tons of CO2, the equivalent of charging more than two million smartphones over 22 hours.
The collaboration is part of NASCAR IMPACT’s sustainability efforts. The organization set a goal to achieve net zero emissions across its operations by 2035 and continues to invest in sustainable practices, including relationships with organizations like Denali to reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote sustainable practices at its events.
“Working with Denali and Levy to collect and recycle food waste at our races illustrates the collaborative effort needed for NASCAR to achieve the goals set across our operation over the next decade,” said Nelson. “The positive impact of this collective effort paves the way for future opportunities.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, unconsumed food comprises approximately 24% of landfill content, producing greenhouse gas emissions 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
“The foundation of our sustainability strategy is our goal to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030,” said Mary McCarthy, Vice President of Sustainability for Levy. “Our teams focus on three things: waste prevention, reducing waste at the source, and recovery to divert surplus food. Working with Denali and NASCAR is an incredible opportunity for our teams to create a positive impact in their communities. In 2023, Denali recycled 14 billion pounds of organic materials, including 1.7 billion pounds of food waste from grocery stores, special events and entertainment venues, hotels, and restaurants.
About Denali
Denali is a leading organic recycling company in the U.S. on a mission to replenish the Earth by repurposing waste. Our work is essential to keeping water clean, reducing the need for new landfill capacity, building soil fertility, helping farmers be more resilient, and reducing society’s reliance on fossil fuels. Our services and products touch thousands of acres, hundreds of locales, millions of tons of material, and nearly every person who purchases and consumes food in the U.S.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.
About Levy
The disruptor in defining the sports and entertainment hospitality experience, Levy is recognized as the market leader and most critically acclaimed hospitality company in its industry. Levy has twice been named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine and has been honored by Forbes as a Best Large Employer, Best Employer for Diversity, and Best Employer for Women. Levy’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning restaurants, iconic sports and entertainment venues, zoos and cultural institutions, theaters and music festivals, and convention centers; as well as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, Coachella and Stagecoach Music Festivals, and NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL and MLS All-Star Games. For more, visit levyrestaurants.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.
Source: NASCAR Communications
