Customers Bank, which planted its North Carolina flag in Wilmington two years ago, now has promising visions of checkered flags.
 
As what Brad Neigel described as a natural outgrowth of Customers Bank's expansion to a location in the Lake Norman/Huntersville area, the bank decided to become a motorsports sponsor. That fast-growing market north of Charlotte is “very centric” to NASCAR and related motorsports, such as the Trans Am series, according to the Customers’ regional president.
 
“We have partnered with [Richard] Petty Motorsports and are sponsoring Thad Moffitt, Richard Petty’s grandson,” Neigel said. “He’s young – only 23 – but he’s been involved with racing since he was a little boy, with go-karts.”
 
This year has been Moffitt’s rookie season in the Trans Am, and his performance along with his lineage has attracted positive attention. The unveiling of Moffitt’s Customers Bank-sponsored Car 43 took place in November. Another debut, that of the Customers Bank Truck 46 will happen in Daytona Beach, Florida in February, Neigel said, adding that the bank has offices in Orlando and Tampa.
 
Customers has also entered the hobby sportscar racing world, thanks to its connection with Moffitt and the Petty Garage.
 
“We’re sponsoring the SVRA (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association) series where hobby sportscars race on weekends,” Neigel said. “We started that this past year.”
 
In August, the Trans Am relationship became official, when Pirelli and the SVRA announced Customers Bank as the series' newest partner and Moffitt's primary sponsor. The Trans Am Series is the longest-running professional road racing series in North America.
 
“We are excited to be working with the Trans Am Series and SVRA,” Adam Bell, chief marketing officer for Customers Bank, said at the time. “It is an honor to be included among the prestigious brands and sponsors that support Pirelli Motorsports. Fueling growth through long-lasting partnerships and innovation is our priority, and we can’t wait for the SpeedTour family to experience banking with us.”