Pitbull terminates partnership with Trackhouse Racing

Pitbull, the Latin hip hop sensation, announced on Friday that he has ended his partnership with NASCAR’s Trackhouse Racing team. Although no reason was given for the sudden announcement, it was made clear that he is stepping down from his role as co-owner, effective immediately. Pitbull had been serving as co-owner alongside former NASCAR driver Justin Marks since the team’s inception in 2021.

This announcement comes just ahead of the Daytona 500, where Pitbull is scheduled to perform a pre-race concert on Sunday. Trackhouse Racing will field four cars in the prestigious race, including full-time drivers Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Shane van Gisbergen, as well as a car for the legendary Helio Castroneves, who will be making his NASCAR debut through the team’s Project 91 program, designed to give world-class drivers the chance to compete at the highest level of stock car racing.

Pitbull shared his thoughts on the decision, saying, “Over the past five years, we’ve made history by introducing NASCAR to a whole new audience and falling in love with NASCAR fans at the same time. We have made the decision to terminate the partnership with Trackhouse Racing, effective immediately. We’re looking forward to performing on the sport’s biggest stage this Sunday, the Daytona 500.”

Becoming one of NASCAR’s most notable celebrity team owners, Pitbull helped elevate Trackhouse Racing from its humble beginnings as a single-car team in 2021 to a prominent force in the sport. Under his ownership, Trackhouse has claimed seven Cup Series victories—five with Chastain, two with Suarez, and one with van Gisbergen—and even finished second in the 2022 championship standings with Chastain.

Before becoming involved in NASCAR, Pitbull was a long-time fan of the sport, having first developed an interest after watching Days of Thunder as a child. He has remained a familiar presence at the Daytona 500, even serving as the grand marshal in 2021, when he famously gave the command to start engines.

Pitbull’s departure marks the end of an era, but his passion for the sport and his impact on its fanbase remain evident.