The Trackhouse Racing Team is going Worldwide. The team announced Friday that Grammy Award winning artist Armando Perez — best known by his stage name, Pitbull, has signed on as a team partner.
The new Trackhouse Racing Team announced its entry into the 2021 Cup Series on Oct. 7, signing Daniel Suarez as the driver of the team’s No. 99 Chevrolet. At the time team founder Justin Marks promised “a disruptive and courageous vision” for the team’s direction.
While they will be racing in 2021, Marks said the team is positioning Trackhouse for success in 2022 with the advent of NASCAR’s Next Gen car. The team is owned by Trackhouse Entertainment Group LLC formed in Jan. 2020 by Marks with former NASCAR executive Ty Norris as president of operations.
“From day one of creating Trackhouse Racing, I wanted our team to be a platform for purpose, to transcend the sport and positively impact all races on and off the track,” said Marks.
“I am proud that in just a few months we are here announcing a partnership with one of the most influential and recognized artists in the world. Within the first 10 minutes of our first meeting, it was clear Armando and I share a vision and passion for impacting the lives of the underrepresented. We are creating and compelling a movement of positivity and possibility, using the platform and excitement of sports and music. Through NASCAR and our partnership with Pitbull, we are going to have the attention of a global demographic that is ready to be inspired into action for themselves, their families and their future.”
Miami native Pitbull is known not only as a rapper, singer and songwriter, but as a brand ambassador. Last March before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the sport, Pitbull appeared with country music star Blake Shelton at Phoenix Raceway as the two paired up for a video shoot in the track’s infield.
“I’ve been a fan of the NASCAR story since the movie ‘Days of Thunder,’” said Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull). “As soon as I met Justin, Ty Norris (team president) and Daniel, we were on the same page. They welcomed me aboard, and now we’re going to show the world NASCAR is not only a sport but it’s a culture. This is an amazing way to celebrate my 40th birthday, so Get Ready! Dale! (Dah-lay)”
Driver Suarez, the 2016 Xfinity Series champ is the lone Mexican-born driver currently in the Cup Series. He made his Cup debut with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017 and moved to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2019 and Guant Brothers Racing in 2020. Trackhouse will be hi fourth team in the last five seasons.
I’ve been a fan of the @NASCAR story since the movie ‘Days of Thunder’, now I’m an official co-owner of the @TeamTrackhouse racing team. Thank you Justin Marks, Ty Norris & Daniel Suarez for the great opportunity. This is a great way to celebrate my 40th bday, so Get Ready! Dale! pic.twitter.com/vDA199TE0h
— Pitbull (@pitbull) January 15, 2021
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
- Biffle, Dorton, Sprague join NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025 nominees for the first time - April 24, 2024
- NASCAR will experiment with different tire compounds for the first time at All-Star Race - April 23, 2024
- Legacy Motor Club reserve driver Corey Heim to sub for Erik Jones at Dover - April 23, 2024