We had the good fortune of connecting with Fez Babar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fez, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
We are in the business to help people 1st and profits 2nd.

Too many guests get taken advantage of by repair shops and dealers, sold work that isn’t necessary, or told something is urgent when it isn’t. Our priority is always making sure a guest is safe to drive their car. Beyond that, we act as consultants: laying out what else the vehicle may need and building a clear plan to get it back in top shape, on the guest’s terms.
We also recognize that not everyone can fix everything right away, and we meet people where they are instead of pressuring them. That honesty is what builds trust and trust is the single biggest factor behind our brand’s success.

Man with glasses and a beard wearing a black cowboy hat and racing suit, smiling outdoors under a shelter.

Three people kneeling beside a red vehicle and a motorcycle outdoors under a clear blue sky.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve been a car enthusiast my entire life, it’s not something I picked up, it’s just always been part of who I am. That passion turned into a dream career when I landed a role at Toyota’s headquarters, where I was in charge of their sports car lineup. It doesn’t get much better than that for someone who loves cars the way I do. On top of that, I’ve been racing for 10 years, the last 5 of those competing nationally.

So when people ask what I’m most proud of, it’s that I found a way to combine everything I love, cars, performance, community, into one business. Owning a shop where I could put that passion to work and genuinely help people was always the end goal for me, even back when I had the security of a great corporate job.

It hasn’t been easy. I put every single dollar I had saved into buying this business, there was no safety net, no plan B. That kind of pressure either breaks you or focuses you, and for me it meant there was no option but to make it work.

One of the biggest lessons business has taught me is that you cannot keep everyone happy and trying to is actually a losing game. What matters more is doing what’s right, every time, even when it’s not the easiest or most popular choice. That consistency is what builds real trust with people, and trust is what actually lasts. That’s the foundation I’ve tried to build this business on, and it’s what I want people to know about my story: it wasn’t a safe bet, but it was built on doing things the right way.

Person standing on rocky shore near a car by a lake with trees and blue sky in background.

Person sitting on a race track holding a sign with the number one, smiling, with a sunset sky in the background.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a car guy at heart, but I also love getting outdoors and hunting down good coffee, so a week with my best friend would mix all three.

We’d start at Eagles Canyon Raceway, I’d take them for a ride in my race car, and if I trust their driving, hand over the keys for some laps. We could also go to Dallas Karting Complex for some go karting

Dallas also has one of the most diverse food scenes in the country, so I’d want to take full advantage of that throughout the week. We’re grabbing lunch at Shop Club of Dallas, but beyond that I’d want to hit spots like Karahi Boys and Khashoka, Sushi Robata and Nikugen Steak Sushi & Ramen for some of the best sushi around, and Hutchins BBQ for some good old Texas barbecue. To slow things down in between, we’d walk the Katy Trail and cruise through Highland Park for some car/house spotting. And since we’re both into trying new spots, we’d squeeze in coffee runs to Escape 360 and George | Coffee + Provisions along the way.

Yellow race car on a track with motion blur, sunlight shining from above, and trees in the background.

Car with open hood inside a garage, engine exposed, surrounded by tools and equipment.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
1st shoutout goes to my siblings, for pushing me to get out of my comfort zone and start something of my own. Owning my own business had always been a goal, but I was in a comfortable corporate job at a large automotive OEM with a steady paycheck and easy to stay put. My siblings were the ones who pushed me to finally take the leap and go after something bigger.

2nd shoutout goes to Kevin Syed, owner of Integrity 1st Car Pros, for trusting me to be his first franchisee. Kevin spent 20 years building that brand, and handing its legacy to me as his first franchisee meant a lot. He and his team have been there for me through my first year in business, and having that support made walking away from the corporate comfort zone a whole lot easier.

Instagram: Personal: @fezbabar, Business: @Integrity1st_NorthDallas

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fez96/

Car with open hood in garage, engine visible, tools nearby, floor with oil stain, garage door in background.

Automotive repair shop with multiple garage bays, cars parked inside, and yellow safety bollards outside, under a metal building.

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