Sam Belnavis

Sam Belnavis
Chief Diversity Officer

Sam Belnavis, Chief Diversity Officer, plays a number of key roles at Roush Racing. He is a leading industry expert in diversity in the world of racing. He is charged with leading Roush’s efforts to assist NASCAR in executing their “Drive for Diversity” initiatives. He also serves as a spokesperson for Roush on diversity issues with key constituents within NASCAR, African American and Hispanic companies and their marketing agencies, and the African American and Hispanic communities at large.

Belnavis also serves as owner designate for Roush Racing’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series programs. In this capacity, he is the designated senior on-site Roush marketing executive at all Craftsman Truck series events. He is present at all NCTS-sanctioned events to handle marketing and new business-related issues.

Belnavis, a native of Brooklyn, New York, received his B.A. in Accounting from Manhattan College in New York and a MBA from the University of Michigan.

Belnavis' career spans more than 25 years of broad-based marketing experience in both general and diversity advertising/promotion. His marketing career began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was Director of Sports Marketing for Miller Brewing Company. He continued his climb as a marketing executive when he became Senior Vice-President of the Sports and Entertainment division of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Advertising Agency in New York City.

No stranger to chartering unfamiliar ground, in 1968 he was the first African-American hired in a managerial position for Sears Roebuck & Company. This legacy continued at Miller Brewing Company, upon his assignment to create and develop the Sports Marketing Department for all Miller brands.

Belnavis has championed many sports and special events projects. He created the World Series of Tavern Pool, the largest pool tournament in the country, and Bill Cosby Racing which featured Willy T. Ribbs, the first African American to qualify and run in the Indianapolis 500.

Belnavis is considered the leading African American and Diversity Expert in NASCAR.  He is President of the Board of the Directors of the North Carolina Motorsports Foundation.  Belnavis also sits on North Carolinas’ Governor Motorsports Advisory Council and NASCAR’S Diversity Council.

Belnavis is also a leader in the Charlotte, where he holds the office of President for the 100 Black Men of Greater Charlotte.

To learn more about diversity-related sponsorship opportunities at Roush Racing, please contact Sam Belnavis at 704-720-4600.