Pitbull Announces Split With Trackhouse Racing Ahead Of Daytona 500
Mr. Worldwide is leaving the NASCAR world.
Entertainer Pitbull announced on Friday that he is ending his partnership with Trackhouse Racing, which he joined as an investor ahead of the the start of its first season in 2021.
“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,” Pitbull, who’s real name is Armando Christian Pérez, wrote on X.
“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. It is a true honor, Dale!”
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Trackhouse started as a two-car team with drivers Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez and added a third chartered car for Shane van Gisbergen this year. It is also running an open car for Helio Castroneves in the Daytona 500. The value of the team has grown dramatically and the third charter was estimated to have cost $40 million.
Rumors spread last summer that Pitbull would be cutting ties with the team when news of a new investment from the Avenue Sports Fund got out. At the time, Trackhouse founder Justin Marks said the stories were “untrue.”
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“This is a great business story,” Marks wrote on X on Friday. “Armando came in when we had no certainty of any material success and took a chance to help build a brand. Now that we’ve scaled up and have new parters, he’s been able to be rewarded for the impact he’s made. A great investment on both ends. Excited to see what he does next! DALE!”
Trackhouse has scored eight wins across its three drivers, with Ross Chastain qualifying for the Championship 4 in 2022 with his now-banned “Hail Melon” wall ride at Martinsville.
The terms of Pitbull’s departure and value of his stake were not revealed. He is scheduled to perform a pre-race concert ahead of the Daytona 500 on Sunday as a make-good for one he missed last year after Sunday’s events were rained out.
This year’s race may also be a wet one and the green flag time has been moved up an hour to 2 p.m. ET in an effort to beat the weather.
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