Pitbull, the Grammy-winning rapper and long-time entrepreneur, posted an abrupt announcement on his X account just a few days before he performed at the pre-race Daytona 500 concert. He announced that he was ending his partnership with NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing, effective immediately.
What Prompted Pitbull To Suddenly Exit?
Pitbull was part of the Trackhouse team and has been a co-owner since its inception in 2021. Being an owner of a NASCAR team brought a whole new audience to the sport. However, with his latest announcement, he left fans and NASCAR supporters in a state of confusion.
However, Trackhouse owner Justin Marks clarified to a NASCAR insider that although Pitbull’s post on X may have been worded badly, there was no bad blood between him and the team at Trackhouse.
The rapper said in a post on X, “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.”
Marks first brought Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Christian Pérez, on board as a partner in 2021. Since then, the rapper has helped the NASCAR team engage with a much wider audience and attract more sponsors. He has also worked on promoting more cultural diversity within the sport by being a part of Trackhouse driver Daniel Suárez’s journey.
During Pitbull’s time as co-owner, the team underwent an expansion and fielded cars for four drivers from different countries, including Ross Chastain (USA), Shane van Gisbergen (New Zealand), Suárez (Mexico), and most recently Hélio Castroneves (Brazil). He even released an album named “Trackhouse” in 2023 and ensured he openly supported the team at all his concerts.
According to NASCAR insider and The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck, as the team grew, it brought on quite a few minority investors, giving Pitbull the chance to step back. He reportedly made a good return on his investment and still maintains a good relationship with Marks and the team at Trackhouse Racing.
