Race-car driver and former Catherine Zeta-Jones body double Leilani Münter will promote clean energy as she zips around the track during one of the upcoming races at Kansas Speedway.
In the ARCA race on September 30, Münter will drive a car sponsored by Operation Free, a group of military veterans who advocate for energy independence and action on climate change. Münter, a former biology student, was the logical choice. She maintains a blog called Carbon Free Girl and fires up Tofurky dogs in the pits.
Münter is also one of racing's most eye-catching drivers. Of Hawaiian-German ancestry, she was named the Hottest Woman in NASCAR by FHM magazine in 2003.
Münter's occupation puts limits on her environmentalism. She does not race on biofuels. Instead, she adopts a rainforest when she competes. Only the decals of eco-friendly companies adorn the body of the cars she drives.
Münter believes that her fire suit gives her credibility with racing fans, who may be less receptive to a go-green message (or at least they vote that way).
As Münter told the Department of Energy:
The race fans forgive me for being an environmentalist because I have a race car. That's why they're listening to me; I have a race car underneath me. If I was just a biology graduate, trying to ask them to do these things, I don't think any of them would hear me.
NASCAR is taking steps the mitigate the series' negative impact on the environment. Pocono Raceway is now powered by a $16 million solar farm.
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