Felix Sabates first entered the world of stock car racing in 1987, when he purchased a research and development team from then-owner and popular Charlotte businessman, Rick Hendrick. SABCO Racing was founded and a new NASCAR Winston Cup competitor entered the scene. For Sabates, it was just the beginning of a long, successful career in the NASCAR circuit.

SABCO Racing’s first full season of Winston Cup competition came in 1990 with driver Kyle Petty, who earned the team's first pole position and checkered flag in the Goodwrench 500 at North Carolina Speedway. The following year, SABCO signed with Mello Yello as the primary sponsor through the 1994 season. Petty notched another pole position and victory at Rockingham before suffering a broken leg and missing 11 races.

In 1992, Sabates’ team branched out into the NASCAR Busch Series with driver Kenny Wallace and sponsor Dirt Devil. Petty found his groove in the Winston Cup circuit, finishing in the top-five in the final point standings for the season. The team fielded both cars in the Winston Cup circuit the following year and Petty again finished top-five in total points. In 1994, the team secured a multi-year sponsorship with Coors Light and replaced Kenny Wallace with Bobby Hamilton.

SABCO Racing changed to Team SABCO at the beginning of the 1996 season and signed Robby Gordon to pilot the No. 40 Coors Light Chevrolet. In 1997, Team SABCO fielded three cars in Winston Cup with drivers Joe Nemechek (No. 42 BellSouth), Wally Dallenbach (No. 46 First Union) and Gordon. The team celebrated its tenth anniversary in 1998 as driver Sterling Marlin won his first race as driver of the No. 40 Coors Light Chevrolet in the Daytona Twin 125. Sterling Marlin proceeds to pull double duty for the team in 1999, racing a full Winston Cup season and a limited Busch Series.

Sabates and Championship Auto Racing Team owner Chip Ganassi announced their partnership in Winston Cup racing during the 2000 season. The team also announced it will partner with Dodge Motorsports for the 2001 season. Jason Leffler, USAC Midget and Silver Crown Champion, was named to drive the No. 01 Cingular Wireless Dodge Intrepid.

In 2001, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates won the first victory of the season as Sterling Marlin won the Gatorade 125 qualifying race prior to the Daytona 500. Marlin pulled the Coors Light Dodge into victory lane following the Pepsi 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 19, 2001, giving Dodge their first manufacture's win since 1977. The Coors Light Dodge rolled into victory lane again following a dominating run by Marlin in the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Other season highlights include a Bud Pole Award in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, putting Marlin in the Bud Shootout event in Daytona at the beginning of the 2002 season. For the 2001 season, Marlin was the only driver to remain in the top-10 in NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship points all season.

Sterling Marlin kicked off the 2002 season with two wins in the month of March - a win in the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and one in the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway. Marlin captured the championship points lead at the second race of the season and stayed there for 25 weeks straight. Following an accident at Kansas Speedway, Marlin was sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a fractured C2 vertebra. New Ganassi driver, Jamie McMurray, who was recently named to drive the Havoline Dodge in 2003, replaced Marlin for the remainder of the year. In his second Winston Cup career start, McMurray won his first ever NASCAR race - the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. McMurray set a new modern era NASCAR record by becoming the quickest driver to win a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race.

Sterling Marlin returned to his Coors Light Dodge healthy and ready to race in 2003. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates added a third team and two rookie drivers to join Marlin. Rookie Jamie McMurray moved to the Havoline Dodge and rookie Casey Mears was named the new driver of the Target Dodge. This marked the first time in Winston Cup history a team had two rookies competing for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. McMurray would go on to be named the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year. After 14 seasons in NASCAR, Sabates keeps on proving he has the winning formula to succeed.

In addition to his success at the track, Sabates also focuses much attention on civic activities. He serves on the Board of Directors for Carolinas Health Care Systems, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the Applica Corporation, Simpson Products, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine.

Sabates is also well known for his many philanthropic contributions and has received several honors and awards for his generosity. Belmont Abbey has named its dining hall after him, Elon College bestowed upon him an Honorary Doctors' Degree, and he received a "Special Blessing" in writing from the Pope. Additionally, Sabates and his wife became members of the philanthropic Dream Makers Society of the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, Fla., in recognition of their 11-year commitment to and support of special fund raising events. In their honor, the Felix and Carolyn Sabates Athletic Center was dedicated in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in November 2000. The facility is the largest Boys and Girls Club in Florida.

Sabates has been married to his wife; Carolyn Pearce Sabates, for 38 years and the couple continue to reside in South Charlotte. They have three children: Mimi, Mario and Chany; six grandchildren: Carly, Victoria, Isabella and Armando Jr. -- born to Armando and Mimi Fitz; as well as Felix IV and Pearce -- born to Chany and his wife Tracy.