Salem company is sponsor for racer

Quaker City Castings will sponsor driver Donnie Neuenberger.

By JOHN BASSETTI

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

SALEM — Donnie Neuenberger will go the extra mile — and then some — for sponsorship.

Neuenberger, a Maryland native who has been racing cars and trucks for 17 years, recently hooked up with Quaker City Castings of Salem for his appearance in the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Daytona 300 next month in Florida.

“We have a one-race contract for now and I am awaiting Donnie’s racing lineup for the balance of 2008 to determine future sponsorships,” said Quaker City Castings president Joe Korff.

Neuenberger will pilot the Jimmy Means Racing No. 52 car at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 16. Royal Farms is the car’s primary sponsor.

As an associate sponsor, “The Foundry Guy” and QCC will have an 8x14-inch, full-sized sticker behind the number on both sides of the car.

“The fact that the car is blue with gold and white stripes and their [QCC’s] logo is red and white is going to pop out pretty good,” said Neuenberger, who showed his appreciation by visiting the Salem factory in December.

“For Joe to give me a little shot in the arm and give me the opportunity to know those guys, I love that stuff. It’s not all about racing; you get to meet people and see things that you wouldn’t normally do unless you were in that business. For Joe to not know that much about me, then call and introduce himself to me and talk to me for a couple hours is pretty cool stuff. It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t know you to find you and give you money and give you a chance.”

Neuenberger sent the workers at the factory a collectible diecast of what the car is going to look like at Daytona.

“It’s something to give back to those guys for giving us a chance and it excites the employees as much as corporate. It’s also an opportunity for Quaker Castings because the big teams want a whole lot more money than we would to participate,” he said.

Quaker produces centrifugal castings for transportation industries.

Neuenberger made his Busch Series debut in 2002 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte where he started 41st and finished 26th in a field that included 11 Winston Cup drivers.

His first full Busch season in 2004 was cut short when, after six races, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of cancer.

“It was stage 4 and was pretty serious, so I ran a few more races, then had to step out of the car. It was a tough 12 months of major treatment. But now the good Lord let me be here,” said Neuenberger.

His best Busch finish in 2007 was 25th at Dover Downs in September.

Because Means is an independent team owner, bucks are scarce.

Neuenberger’s schedule depends on money. He has six races lined up, but he’s looking for sponsors.

“It’s hard to find the money. With all the Cup guys in the Busch Series, they steal the sponsors because they [drivers’ teams] can offer them so much more.”

Nationwide replaced Busch as the series sponsor. It’s the top support series to Sprint Cup (formerly Nextel Cup), NASCAR’s premier series.

Neuenberger is enthusiastic about Daytona because Means managed to procure Chevy equipment from Joe Gibbs Racing.

“We’ll have access to a 2007 Chevy with a Joe Gibbs-built Chevy motor in it. That’s pretty exciting. For us, their old equipment is new. That’s raised our expectations to be competitive.”

Gibbs’ switch to Toyota, incrementally, last year couldn’t have come at a better time for Means.

Neuenberger’s ultimate goal is to run at least one Daytona 500.

“We did try to make a couple Cup races a year ago, but, with the Car of Tomorrow and the influx of Toyota teams, that effort was hampered.”

bassetti@vindy.com