Pitbull ends partnership with Trackhouse Racing
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Grammy Award-winning rapper and singer Pitbull is ending his partnership with Trackhouse Racing, “effective immediately,” just days before the Daytona 500.
Pitbull made the announcement on social media Friday.
“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,” he posted.
Trackhouse owner Justin Marks first brought Pitbull on as a co-owner in January 2021. Five months before, Marks formed the team with former Dale Earnhardt, Inc. executive Ty Norris with the intention of racing in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021.
“This is a great business story. Armando came in when we had no certainty of any material success and took a chance to help build a brand,” Marks said Friday.
The move was seen as a breakthrough for NASCAR.
“As soon as I met Justin, Ty Norris and Daniel, we were on the same page,” Pitbull said then. “They welcomed me aboard, and now we’re going to show the world NASCAR is not only a sport but it’s a culture.”
Suarez, a Monterrey, Mexico native, appeared in music videos and concerts with Pitbull, the son of Cuban immigrants. Pitbull even named his 2023 album, “Trackhouse.”
On the track, Trackhouse has since lived up to the hype. The team has scored eight wins and a Championship 4 appearance in four NASCAR Cup Series seasons. They have also had a driver in the playoffs every year since 2022.
Their success has attracted Avenue Sports Fund. In July 2024, Avenue acquired a “significant minority stake” in Trackhouse Entertainment Group, the parent company to Trackhouse Racing. The fund provides capital solutions for sports teams and leagues around the world and “investments in emerging sport properties to capitalize on areas of exponential growth.”
Pitbull’s departure marks a shift for the team that Marks likens to an evolution.
“Now that we’ve scaled up and have new partners, 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!” Marks said Friday.
Pitbull’s departure raises questions about the future of Trackhouse, especially with his connection to Suarez. Suarez, Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen all have deals with the team that will end after 2025 – and development driver Connor Zilisch is quickly ascending the NASCAR ladder.
Last January, Connor Zilisch earned a class win in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Then, two months later, Zilisch won the pole for his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Circuit of the Americas. He finished fourth after a remarkable comeback.
In August, JR Motorsports signed Zilisch to drive full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025. It came a month before he made his NXS debut at Watkins Glen where he won the pole, led 45 of 90 laps and won the race.
Zilisch backed that up with a fourth-place finish at Kansas Speedway, a 12th at Homestead-Miami Speedway and a fourth at Phoenix Raceway.
This season, Zilisch will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at COTA.
Many believe Suarez could be on the hot seat. Here is how his stats compare to teammate Ross Chastain since 2022:
| Driver | Daniel Suarez | Ross Chastain |
| Starts | 108 | 108 |
| Wins | 2 | 5 |
| Top-5 finishes | 13 | 31 |
| Top-10 finishes | 32 | 49 |
| Average finish | 17.8 | 14.4 |
| Playoff appearances | 2 | 2 |
| Championship 4 appearances | 0 | 1 (2nd in points, 2022) |
TRE reached out to Trackhouse Racing for a comment or a statement but hasn’t heard back yet.
The organization posted on social media, “We’re honored and humbled that Pitbull has chosen to take this journey with Trackhouse. Thank you for all you’ve done and good luck on your next venture! DALE!!!”
Pitbull said he is looking forward to performing a concert before Sunday’s Daytona 500, adding, “It is a true honor, Dale!”
Discover more from The Racing Experts
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com