[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 125 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S9594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING BIODIESEL-FUELED DRAGSTER

 Mrs. CARNAHAN. Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity 
to recognize a remarkable achievement receiving worldwide attention 
from farmers, environmentalists, and racing fans. The Smith family of 
Puxico, MO, has set repeated world records with its biodiesel-fueled 
dragster named ``Wild Thang.'' Wild Thang is a family affair for the 
Smiths. Mark Smith drives the dragster, assisted by his wife Shelia and 
sons Jared and Cannon. Their ingenuity has helped showcase the 
limitless potential of biofuels. They make me proud to be a Missourian.
  Wild Thang is fueled 100 percent by biodiesel, a soybean-based 
renewable fuel that can help us rely on the Midwest, rather than the 
Middle East to meet our energy needs. The Smiths are proving in 
appearances across the Nation that soybean-based biodiesel can perform 
under the most rigorous conditions. Wild Thang produces 6,000 pounds of 
thrust and five g's of force against the driver's body while 
accelerating. In just 3.8 seconds, Wild Thang can travel \1/8\ of a 
mile.
  I commend the Smith family and their network of supporters for their 
hard work. They are tremendous ambassadors for rural Missouri and for 
biodiesel. I am confident that the future will prove that the efforts 
of the Smith family are playing a key role in promoting of farmer-
produced biofuels. These fuels have unlimited potential to revitalize 
rural economies while preserving the environment. I commend the Smith 
family's achievements, and wish them continued success as they continue 
their exciting endeavor.

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