Sabates shares NASCAR's pain

By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
May 4, 2001
7:22 PM EDT (2322 GMT)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Felix Sabates, a Cuban immigrant who became a hugely successful businessman, became involved as a NASCAR car owner in the Busch Series in the late 1980s in partnership with Ted Conder and Bobby Hillin. After having success in that division, Sabates moved to the Winston Cup Series.

After running one race with the late Rob Moroso in 1988, Sabates jumped into the series with Kyle Petty, running 19 races in 1989. His role as a primary owner expanded to include a two-car team in 1993.

Felix Sabates ran cars for Kyle Petty and others for more than a decade.

Sabates fielded multiple teams through the end of the 2000 season, when he sold the majority of his Winston Cup operation to Indy-car owner Chip Ganassi. He passed control of his Busch Series operation to his son-in-law Armando Fitz.

Friday, Sabates sent an open letter to the NASCAR community, drawing on his experiences to issue a statement of support for the sanctioning body that is involved in an ongoing controversy following the death of seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt in a crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500.

The text of Sabates' letter:

"For more than 14 years, I have been involved with NASCAR as a Car Owner, both in the Busch Grand National Series and the elite Winston Cup Division.

"I have seen the phenomenal explosion of popularity among the fans and the incredible corporate commitment with sponsorships exceeding $16 million a year to individual race teams and drivers. No other team sport in America rivals even close to the success of NASCAR.

"We have no drug problems; we have no murders; we have no wife beating or child abuse problems. Why? Because the NASCAR family will not tolerate any of the above. NASCAR, under the France Family leadership, has made sure that we are a proud family that sets an example of decency, caring for each other off the track, as well as cohesive behavior by all drivers on the track. When one of the family does not behave in an exemplary way, the person is not stoned to death, but instead talked to and guided, and made to understand that we must set an example for our families, children and the rest of the world.

"We as a family have suffered several deaths of our loved ones. I, for one, lost Adam Petty. Kyle drove my No. 42 car for eight years, so I saw Adam grow from a chunky little fellow to a great young man with a beautiful smile, tremendous talent and a great sense for family unity.

"I lost my driver Kenny Irwin Jr. He was only with me a short period of time before the angels took him away. Kenny was younger than my youngest child. Just as I was beginning to understand Kenny and appreciate his past frustration, and to realize that he was going to be a champion, Kenny was gone.

"Another loss was John Nemechek, whose brother Joe drove for me. I was with his family at the hospital in Miami when the angels also took him away. My wife and I were with Teresa and Taylor Earnhardt for several hours Sunday evening after Dale's tragic accident, sharing with them the pain and agony that I had shared earlier with the Pettys, the Irwins and the Nemecheks.

"These are four deaths that were the fault of no one. If you have a strong belief in God, you must accept it as God's ways and His will, just as Alan Kulwicki was taken from us in the Championship Year -- not in a race car accident but in a plane accident. And let's not forget about Davey Allison. This also was the Lord's wish. We have the right to ask why when we lose a dear one, but at the end of the day we must accept His decision.

"Some of the press are not satisfied with accepting reality. Some of the press want to make something out of this death, while others question the ability of NASCAR to make this 3,400-pound beast safe. First of all, I have experienced, as a Car Owner, the evolution to greater safety for our race cars. NASCAR has worked quietly but diligently for many years to improve safety in a sport where it is almost impossible to please everyone.

"But they have also been the target of complaints from Car Owners and Crew Chiefs that many of these safety measures add a tremendous amount of cost to building a race car. I have never seen NASCAR give in to cost complaints or compromise their integrity for safety no matter what financial burden it would bring a team. I believe from the bottom of my heart that safety is NASCAR's number one priority.

"The thing the press doesn't see is what they do on a daily basis. NASCAR does not brag, nor do they seek publicity when they make a safety improvement to our cars. They don't pound themselves on the chest when safety changes are made. They do it quietly and go on to the next issue.

"It is easy to second guess, especially when you are ignorant of the facts. Take a look at a 1991 NASCAR race car. Then take a look at a 2001 race car, make a comparison and then give NASCAR credit for what they have done to make our race cars safer. They are much safer. It is impossible to please everyone, but NASCAR listens daily, and they work with the teams daily to improve safety.

"However, it is impossible for them to police every detail of a race car at the race track. We have the most ingenious Crew Chiefs and Drivers in the world. For more than 50 years, they have learned how to or how not to comply with the rules when it comes to the issue of safety. Sometimes the interpretation of the rules becomes a matter of individuality.

"I applaud NASCAR for what they do and what they have done. They hurt as much as we all do. They miss the "fallen warriors" as much as we do, and I have the utmost confidence in their desire to make our race cars safer. I also have the utmost confidence in their ability to make the right decision for a safer race car."