Juan Pablo Montoya The Lead Actor in Felix Sabates’ 2009 NASCAR Story
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I had a great conversation with Felix Sabates on Tuesday morning. I had to do a rewrite on one of the last chapters of my upcoming book and needed to interview Felix to enlighten me a bit more on a topic that was near and dear to his heart: motorcoaches.
For example, did you know Sabates was the first person to purchase and bring a motorcoach to a racetrack (back in 1987), a move that truly revolutionized the sport?
I’d give you his answer on what prompted Sabates to do so – it’s a classic explanation, trust me – but you’ll have to wait until the book is out.
Sabates was also the first team owner to start flying his team in private airplanes to distant race sites, a practice that is so common today that over 40 private jets typically transport team members on Thursday’s or Friday’s, head back home, and then return early Sunday morning with more team members that are just there to attend that day’s race. No wonder it’s unofficially called the NASCAR Air Force.
Sabates is a guy who really has been a NASCAR pioneer, but has never really gotten a whole hell of a lot of credit. Leaving Cuba virtually penniless following Fidel Castro’s overthrow of the government, young Felix came to this country where he washed pots and pans and sanded furniture for 12-hour days or longer.
He eventually gravitated into sales, first with cars and then with a variety of products that helped him become a multi-millionaire and a classic example of a rags-to-riches story.
And one thing he quickly grew to love in his new adopted homeland was NASCAR racing, a love affair that continues to this very day.
Sabates used to have his own multi-car Cup team, one that competed in nearly 650 starts over 14 years, winning seven races, as well as 33 top-fives and 107 top-10s. Most notable of that tenure with Team Sabco was Kyle Petty, who earned six of his eight career Cup wins.
Sabates also gave a helping hand to others like Kenny Wallace, the late Bobby Hamilton, Wally Dallenbach Jr., the late Kenny Irwin Jr., Robby Gordon, Joe Nemechek, Jeff Green, Sterling Marlin and Ted Musgrave, among others.
Unfortunately, and even with the kind of wealth he has, Sabates could not continue supporting Team Sabco. Just before it appeared the team would fold and close up shop, Chip Ganassi purchased majority ownership of the team late in 2000, giving it a lifeline that continues to this very day.
But rather than taking Ganassi’s money and cashing out, Sabates was like a gambler needing a fix, wanting to continue being part of the action, but on his own terms. That’s why he retained a minority ownership in Ganassi’s new operation, which led to one of the most long-winded team names in sports history: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing With Felix Sabates.
Sadly, the closest Sabates has ever come to a Cup championship was 2001, when Sterling Marlin finished third to eventual champ Jeff Gordon. When he was primary team owner by himself, Sabates also came close in 1992 and 1993 when the younger Petty finished fifth both seasons in the infamous Mello Yello Pontiac.
Even though he’s not as involved as he was when he was a primary team owner, Sabates still gets as much a kick out of being part of NASCAR today as he did nearly 25 years ago when he first came into the sport.
And while I know Ganassi is the guy who pays the bills and gets most of the glory as majority team owner, it would be a great story to see Juan Pablo Montoya surprise a lot of folks in the upcoming Chase and potentially win the championship – and finally give Sabates his chance to shine in the spotlight.
It would be the icing on the cake of a long and storied career for Sabates, a savvy and wily businessman if there ever was, but also one of the nicest guys you’ll ever find in the garage (and one hell of a storyteller).
We’ve spent a lot of time already this season talking about how much Mark Martin deserves to win his first Cup championship, but if you ask me, Sabates deserves to finally win a Cup title just as much.
