MONROE - Ethanol fuel has plenty of adversaries, but in Monroe it has at least one supporter who's building a business around proving ethanol's value.
Pete Raskovic of New Glarus, a 32-year master technician, started Ethanol Racing Research to build fuel systems that use E98, which is 98 percent ethanol, for short-track racing. He's also opening a second business in the same building called Raskovic Automotive Service and Repair.
Ethanol Racing Research will supply stock car racers with fuel systems to be used on race cars in the Midwest and some out east, and Raskovic said he expects that base to grow.
But creating a product is only part of the business' purpose. Raskovic said Ethanol Racing Research - set to open today, Nov. 30, in Monroe - will also promote awareness and acceptance of ethanol as a fuel. He's been working with ethanol for about 12 years and is determined to use the data he's collecting through his business to counter what he says are lies about ethanol that are spread by the oil industry.
"We have had success with this fuel system with using E98 that no one else in the nation has. I mean, that's really the bottom line," Raskovic said. "Everybody who does something groundbreaking has to be somewhere, that's what we say."
With five years of "on-track research and development" with the fuel system, Raskovic already has data on how E98 works as a racing fuel and how it affects the vehicles and engines it powers.
Which is to say - not at all.
According to Raskovic, engines that run on E98 show the same amount of wear as engines that run on gasoline. At the end of every year, he disassembles his E98 engines and takes critical measurements. He's found these measurements directly contradict the "big oil" claims that ethanol causes abnormal wear to an engine, leading to catastrophic failure. He also found that engines run cooler on ethanol than on gasoline, despite claims that ethanol causes engines to run too hot.
And the oil industry is criticizing E15 - 15 percent ethanol - in these claims, Raskovic said. E15 is used in NASCAR.
"We are torture-testing the ethanol, and we're torture-testing an engine in a racing application. We're having tremendous success with it," Raskovic said. "It has more horsepower than racing gas ... (E98) makes more torque. And it is just wicked fast on the track."
His racing team, Michael Raskovic Racing, participates in two series in the Midwest and has raked in numerous wins this year, including a first-place finish in August by Raskovic's son, Michael, in the Midwest Truck Series at Madison International Speedway.
"We definitely, definitely have gotten the attention of those who are inexperienced with ethanol," Pete Raskovic said.
If the engine's performance on the track isn't enough, the ethanol industry can use Raskovic's data to go "head-to-head with big oil," he said.
Building from the past
Opening a business that combines racing, automotive technology and ethanol follows the trajectory of Raskovic's life almost perfectly.
First is the fact that he's a farmer and member of Wisconsin Corn Growers Association.
He's also been involved in racing for more than 30 years, working in many facets of the industry - from mechanic to team owner. One team used ethanol while he worked with them, which sparked his interest in the fuel.
Meanwhile, he got a degree in auto technology, worked for General Motors as a technician and eventually became an automotive educator at the college and high school levels. Raskovic said he built Wisconsin's first and only ASE and NATEF Master Certified high school automotive training program in history. The program, the Hendricks Center for Automotive Studies, is located at the Eclipse Center in Beloit.
Raskovic fused teaching with racing when he and billionaire Ken Hendricks, the founder of ABC Supply, created the Urban Force Race Team in conjunction with a technical program for at-risk high school students in Beloit. Students ran the race team as an extracurricular activity.
Several years ago Raskovic decided to build an ethanol fuel system for short-track racing.
"My specialty has always been fuel systems - I just, I dig it," he said. "I like to do things that other people have not had success with. It's the way I'm wired."
Entrepreneurship isn't a new undertaking for him, either. Because some racing series were "unfriendly to ethanol," Raskovic founded his own research and development racing series called the American Ethanol SuperTruck series two years ago. That way he could operate freely.
"I didn't beat the system; I copied the system and so now the system is friendly to ethanol," he said. "We were just making so much progress, we couldn't be hampered."
About three or four years ago, Raskovic started Ethanol Racing Research. He registered it officially as a corporation in 2014 and settled on a Monroe location near Badger State Ethanol after searching around Green County. He credits BSE vice president and general manager Erik Huschitt with suggesting the location at 2740 N 3rd St. in the north industrial park.
Being close to the ethanol production facility will make it easier for the two entities to work together, Raskovic said.
But the new building wouldn't be complete without a piece of his past.
Hendricks, Raskovic's friend and a generous benefactor to the auto program in Beloit, died in an accident in 2007. Raskovic wanted to bring the memory of his friend to the new business, so he contacted Hendricks' widow Diane.
"I wanted to get a full photo of Ken for the office," Raskovic said. "I've always had his picture there (in a previous workspace) since he passed, and it was really nice of her (to send a photo)."
Pete Raskovic of New Glarus, a 32-year master technician, started Ethanol Racing Research to build fuel systems that use E98, which is 98 percent ethanol, for short-track racing. He's also opening a second business in the same building called Raskovic Automotive Service and Repair.
Ethanol Racing Research will supply stock car racers with fuel systems to be used on race cars in the Midwest and some out east, and Raskovic said he expects that base to grow.
But creating a product is only part of the business' purpose. Raskovic said Ethanol Racing Research - set to open today, Nov. 30, in Monroe - will also promote awareness and acceptance of ethanol as a fuel. He's been working with ethanol for about 12 years and is determined to use the data he's collecting through his business to counter what he says are lies about ethanol that are spread by the oil industry.
"We have had success with this fuel system with using E98 that no one else in the nation has. I mean, that's really the bottom line," Raskovic said. "Everybody who does something groundbreaking has to be somewhere, that's what we say."
With five years of "on-track research and development" with the fuel system, Raskovic already has data on how E98 works as a racing fuel and how it affects the vehicles and engines it powers.
Which is to say - not at all.
According to Raskovic, engines that run on E98 show the same amount of wear as engines that run on gasoline. At the end of every year, he disassembles his E98 engines and takes critical measurements. He's found these measurements directly contradict the "big oil" claims that ethanol causes abnormal wear to an engine, leading to catastrophic failure. He also found that engines run cooler on ethanol than on gasoline, despite claims that ethanol causes engines to run too hot.
And the oil industry is criticizing E15 - 15 percent ethanol - in these claims, Raskovic said. E15 is used in NASCAR.
"We are torture-testing the ethanol, and we're torture-testing an engine in a racing application. We're having tremendous success with it," Raskovic said. "It has more horsepower than racing gas ... (E98) makes more torque. And it is just wicked fast on the track."
His racing team, Michael Raskovic Racing, participates in two series in the Midwest and has raked in numerous wins this year, including a first-place finish in August by Raskovic's son, Michael, in the Midwest Truck Series at Madison International Speedway.
"We definitely, definitely have gotten the attention of those who are inexperienced with ethanol," Pete Raskovic said.
If the engine's performance on the track isn't enough, the ethanol industry can use Raskovic's data to go "head-to-head with big oil," he said.
Building from the past
Opening a business that combines racing, automotive technology and ethanol follows the trajectory of Raskovic's life almost perfectly.
First is the fact that he's a farmer and member of Wisconsin Corn Growers Association.
He's also been involved in racing for more than 30 years, working in many facets of the industry - from mechanic to team owner. One team used ethanol while he worked with them, which sparked his interest in the fuel.
Meanwhile, he got a degree in auto technology, worked for General Motors as a technician and eventually became an automotive educator at the college and high school levels. Raskovic said he built Wisconsin's first and only ASE and NATEF Master Certified high school automotive training program in history. The program, the Hendricks Center for Automotive Studies, is located at the Eclipse Center in Beloit.
Raskovic fused teaching with racing when he and billionaire Ken Hendricks, the founder of ABC Supply, created the Urban Force Race Team in conjunction with a technical program for at-risk high school students in Beloit. Students ran the race team as an extracurricular activity.
Several years ago Raskovic decided to build an ethanol fuel system for short-track racing.
"My specialty has always been fuel systems - I just, I dig it," he said. "I like to do things that other people have not had success with. It's the way I'm wired."
Entrepreneurship isn't a new undertaking for him, either. Because some racing series were "unfriendly to ethanol," Raskovic founded his own research and development racing series called the American Ethanol SuperTruck series two years ago. That way he could operate freely.
"I didn't beat the system; I copied the system and so now the system is friendly to ethanol," he said. "We were just making so much progress, we couldn't be hampered."
About three or four years ago, Raskovic started Ethanol Racing Research. He registered it officially as a corporation in 2014 and settled on a Monroe location near Badger State Ethanol after searching around Green County. He credits BSE vice president and general manager Erik Huschitt with suggesting the location at 2740 N 3rd St. in the north industrial park.
Being close to the ethanol production facility will make it easier for the two entities to work together, Raskovic said.
But the new building wouldn't be complete without a piece of his past.
Hendricks, Raskovic's friend and a generous benefactor to the auto program in Beloit, died in an accident in 2007. Raskovic wanted to bring the memory of his friend to the new business, so he contacted Hendricks' widow Diane.
"I wanted to get a full photo of Ken for the office," Raskovic said. "I've always had his picture there (in a previous workspace) since he passed, and it was really nice of her (to send a photo)."