Viking Motorsports co-founder Don Sackett has launched a new industry-focused initiative that merges two of his passions: motorsports and materials recycling. Through this new annual program, Viking Motorsports will feature an up-and-coming company within the scrap metal and recycling industry on the team’s No. 99 Chevrolet each season – with the goal of recognizing businesses that are driving innovation and supporting the long-term health of the recycling sector.
The inaugural company selected for this honor was Buddy, a B2B marketplace transforming how buyers and sellers of metal recyclables connect and trade. Buddy was featured on the No. 99 Viking Motorsports Chevrolet during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway – one of the most iconic events on the NASCAR calendar.
“For more than two decades, we’ve been fortunate to work in an industry that’s constantly evolving – and we want to support the companies that are making the future brighter,” said Don Sackett, co-founder of Viking Motorsports and chief executive officer of SciAps. “Buddy is one of those companies. Lisa and Stuart Kagan have built a platform that directly addresses the inefficiencies recyclers face every day. We’re excited to recognize their leadership and innovation by featuring Buddy on the No. 99 Chevrolet at Daytona.”
Buddy’s recently launched marketplace enables direct relationships between vetted buyers and sellers in the $348B global metal recycling industry. Built by founders with over 30 years of experience, Buddy is the first digital platform designed “for scrappies, by scrappies,” offering an intuitive and trust-first environment that replaces outdated, manual trading processes.
“Most trades in our industry are guided by gut feel and rely on disconnected systems and manual work,” said Stuart Kagan, co-founder of Buddy. “Buddy solves that by fostering real relationships using technology, deepening those connections through data and AI-driven insights and achieving better prices off the back of a more robust and resilient trade ecosystem. Having Buddy featured on the Viking Motorsports car at Daytona is an incredible opportunity to raise awareness within the industry and show recyclers across the country that a better way is here.”
As part of this new initiative, The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) will also join the No. 99 team as an associate partner. ReMA represents more than 1,700 companies in the U.S. and 40 countries worldwide. The D.C.-based organization provides education, safety training and advocates for the critical role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade and sustainability.
Published October 2025
