Schneider came on the national scene in 1983 driving a Porsche 924 in the IMSA GT Championship GTU class for Performance Motorsports. He stayed in that car through 1985. In 1985 he also began racing a Pontiac Firebird in the Trans-Am Series. In 1986 he moved to Performance Motorsports' new Buick Somerset Trans-Am car and drove a Mazda rotary engine powered Argo in the 24 Hours of Daytona for Outlaw Racing. In 1987 he drove at Daytona in a Cosworth powered Tiga for Cosmik-Roy Baker Racing while continuing to drive the Somerset in Trans-Am. In 1988's 24 Hours of Daytona race, Schneider drove a Porsche powered Royale for Diman Racing and drove a number of other IMSA races in a Tiga for Essex Racing Services. He also raced part-time in Performance Motorsports' Chevrolet Corvette Trans-Am car.