Sam Belnavis
Encyclopedia
Sam Belnavis is an African American
executive in automobile racing. He is one of the few minority
persons to have owned a NASCAR
racing team. He is currently the head of Roush Fenway Racing's driver diversity program, and handles other marketing initiatives for that company.
, with primarily white students, a very different experience.
Belnavis attended Manhattan College
in New York, graduating with a degree in accounting, and got a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Michigan
. He was in Air Force ROTC in Manhattan College, and served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot in the 105th Tactical Fighter Wing, located at Lackland Air Force Base
in Texas.
. In 1981, while in that job, he signed Bobby Allison
to a sponsorship contract. After working at Miller, Belnavis was hired by DiGard Racing
; part of his duties were to push a program to diversify DiGard Racing with an African-American driver.
After DiGard, Belnavis took a position as senior vice-president of sports and entertainment with Saatchi & Saatchi
, one of the world's largest advertising firms. In 1991 he relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina
, where he founded his own advertising and marketing agency, Belnavis & Associates.
In 2003, Belnavis became NASCAR's first full-time minority owner when he fielded BelCar Motorsports' #54 U.S. National Guard Ford Motor Company entry driven by Todd Bodine
. In 2004, the team, at the time NASCAR's only minority-owned team, closed when the National Guard elected to sponsor a Roush Racing vehicle instead.
He continues to serves as a team in lower-level NASCAR leagues through the Drive for Diversity
program, fielding entries for Morty Buckes, Brianne Conrath, and Jesus Hernandez in the past.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
executive in automobile racing. He is one of the few minority
Minority group
A minority is a sociological group within a demographic. The demographic could be based on many factors from ethnicity, gender, wealth, power, etc. The term extends to numerous situations, and civilizations within history, despite the misnomer of minorities associated with a numerical statistic...
persons to have owned a NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racing team. He is currently the head of Roush Fenway Racing's driver diversity program, and handles other marketing initiatives for that company.
Education and military service
As a child, Belnavis attended Our Lady of Victory, an all-black parochial school in Brooklyn, New York. He then attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High SchoolBishop Loughlin Memorial High School
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School is a Roman Catholic Christian Brothers university-preparatory secondary school serving students in grades 9 through 12 in Brooklyn, New York. The school is under the jurisdiction of the Brooklyn diocese.-History:...
, with primarily white students, a very different experience.
Belnavis attended Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
in New York, graduating with a degree in accounting, and got a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He was in Air Force ROTC in Manhattan College, and served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot in the 105th Tactical Fighter Wing, located at Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
in Texas.
Career
After leaving the Air Force, he took a management position at Sears, in 1968. From there, he became a director of sports marketing for Miller BrewingMiller Brewing
The Miller Brewing Company is an American beer brewing company owned by the United Kingdom-based SABMiller. Its regional headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the company has brewing facilities in Albany, Georgia; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Eden, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas;...
. In 1981, while in that job, he signed Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
to a sponsorship contract. After working at Miller, Belnavis was hired by DiGard Racing
DiGard Motorsports
DiGard Motorsports was a championship-winning race team in NASCAR Winston Cup that had its most success in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
; part of his duties were to push a program to diversify DiGard Racing with an African-American driver.
After DiGard, Belnavis took a position as senior vice-president of sports and entertainment with Saatchi & Saatchi
Saatchi & Saatchi
Saatchi & Saatchi is a global advertising agency network with 140 offices in 80 countries and over 6,500 staff. It was founded in London in 1970 but now headquartered in New York. The parent company of the agency group was known as Saatchi & Saatchi PLC from 1976 to 1994, was listed on the London...
, one of the world's largest advertising firms. In 1991 he relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, where he founded his own advertising and marketing agency, Belnavis & Associates.
In 2003, Belnavis became NASCAR's first full-time minority owner when he fielded BelCar Motorsports' #54 U.S. National Guard Ford Motor Company entry driven by Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine is a NASCAR driver. Todd is the younger brother of former racers Geoff Bodine and Brett Bodine. Bodine is known for his bald head, which has given him the nickname The Onion...
. In 2004, the team, at the time NASCAR's only minority-owned team, closed when the National Guard elected to sponsor a Roush Racing vehicle instead.
He continues to serves as a team in lower-level NASCAR leagues through the Drive for Diversity
Drive for Diversity
The Drive for Diversity program is a development system instituted by NASCAR in 2004 in order to attract minorities and women to the sport in positions such as ownership, driving and crew members. Before an applicant is accepted into the program, their resumes are checked by NASCAR officials...
program, fielding entries for Morty Buckes, Brianne Conrath, and Jesus Hernandez in the past.
External links
- "A Conversation with Sam Belnavis", podcast from NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...