Belnavis, an African American who joined Miller Brewing Company in the late 1970s and managed the company’s sports marketing department, first broke into NASCAR in the 1980s when he signed NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Allison to a sponsorship contract.
Belnavis would go on to serve in multiple other roles throughout NASCAR, most notably as the co-owner of BelCar Motorsports with Travis Carter.
Belnavis left the team at the end of the 2003 season for Roush Racing, where he would go on to become the team’s chief diversity officer and owner-designate.
“We are saddened by the passing of Sam Belnavis, a true pioneer in motorsports whose tireless work helped foster an inclusive environment throughout NASCAR,” read a statement released by NASCAR.
In the two decades since Belnavis owned a Cup Series team, minority investment into the highest levels of stock car racing has and continues to grow.