Major NASCAR tracks are harnessing solar power this season. Pocono Raceway’s 3-megawatt solar farm powers the venue and even feeds the local grid. Sonoma Raceway has a 353-kilowatt solar system (1,652 panels) supplying about 41% of its energy. These projects reflect a push for cleaner energy in racing.
Pocono’s solar farm, launched in 2010, spans 25 acres with nearly 40,000 panels. It has produced over 50 million kilowatt-hours and offsets about 2,300 metric tons of CO2 yearly. The track runs 100% on its own solar power during events. Pocono CEO Nick Igdalsky said the project was their “first venture into sustainability” and remains the foundation of the track’s “ongoing green successes.”
Sonoma Raceway’s solar array was built with Panasonic around 2014. Its 1,652 panels generate roughly 40% of the track’s electricity. The system even powers a solar-panel LED billboard and helps run day-to-day operations. Track officials say these features show how racing venues can implement renewable energy.
Other speedways are adding solar too. Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Turn 4 “Sun Deck” includes 773 panels that generate over 315,000 kWh per year. Florida’s Daytona International Speedway partnered with FPL on a 7,000-panel installation (the “FPL Solar Circuit”) to power the track. Indianapolis Motor Speedway has the world’s largest sporting solar farm (39,312 panels, 9.0 MW). These examples suggest a league-wide trend.
NASCAR’s governing body has made sustainability a goal. In 2023 it pledged net-zero carbon emissions by 2035 and 100% renewable energy at its owned tracks. NASCAR’s head of sustainability Riley Nelson noted that measuring and reducing energy use will be an annual process. First steps have included a zero-waste race event and expanded recycling programs.
Beyond NASCAR, solar racing events highlight the technology’s potential. The biennial World Solar Challenge in Australia sends solar cars 3,000 km across the Outback. In 2023, a Belgian team’s car averaged about 88 km/h over the course. In the U.S., college teams compete at the Formula Sun Grand Prix. Florida’s SolarGators won in 2023 by driving 707.5 miles on solar power in a single track event. These races show that solar energy can sustain high speeds and long distances.
Racing officials say these solar projects fit into motorsports’ “green” shift. By generating track power from the sun, facilities reduce carbon footprint and test clean-tech solutions. The trend points to broader sustainability in racing – both on and off the track. The moves at Pocono, Sonoma and other venues highlight how NASCAR and its partners are adopting renewable energy in 2025 and beyond.
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