Pitbull joins Trackhouse Racing NASCAR Cup team as team partner

By Dustin LongJan 15, 2021, 1:04 PM EST

Superstar performer Pitbull has joined Trackhouse Racing as a co-owner, the organization announced Friday.

Pitbull’s entrance into the sport marks the second internationally known figure to join NASCAR since last fall. NBA great Michael Jordan formed 23XI Racing with Denny Hamlin last year.

Pitbull will be a co-owner with Justin Marks at Trackhouse Racing. Daniel Suarez is the team’s driver. The team makes its debut in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 14. Pitbull plans to attend the race.

“I’ve been a fan of the NASCAR story since the movie ‘Days of Thunder,’” said Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull) in a statement from the team. “As soon as I metJustin, 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)”

NASCAR issued a statement about Pitbull’s entrance to the sport:

“NASCAR is excited to welcome international recording star Pitbull into the NASCAR family, as he joins Trackhouse Racing and an incredibly talented driver in Daniel Suárez. Pitbull is an iconic talent in the music industry and has tremendous passion for NASCAR racing. We look forward to working with him to further engage diverse audiences and introduce new fans to our great sport.”

Billboard ranked Pitbull No. 45 among its top performers of the 2010s.

Pitbull’s social media reach is immense. More than 53 million people have liked his Facebook page. He has 25.5 million followers on Twitter. His Youtube page has 14.2 million subscribers. He has 8.2 million followers on Instagram.

PItbull also did a music video before last year’s Xfinity and Cup season finales at Phoenix Raceway on NBCSN and NBC.

NASCAR Championship weekend kicks off tomorrow with yours truly! I believe it’s going to be one to remember. Catch the Xfinity Series Championship tomorrow on NBCSN and the @NASCAR Cup Series Championship Sunday on @NASCARonNBC #NASCAR #IBelieveThatWeWillWin pic.twitter.com/Feabmlmf6q

— Pitbull (@pitbull) November 6, 2020

Pitbull started the SLAM Foundation in 2013. It created a network of tuition-free public charter K-12 schools in 11 cities throughout the U.S.

Marks has stated that his team will have a focus promoting STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

“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,” Marks said in a statement. “Within the first 10 minutes of our first meeting, it was clear Armandoand 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.”

Marks and Pitbull plan to foster the launch of a racing-themed STEM curriculum within the SLAM! (Sports Leadership Arts and Management) inner-city charter schools.

“NASCAR racing is about pushing boundaries,” Marks said in a social media video announcing the alliance with Pitbull. “For the Trackhouse Racing team that means more than just winning on the racetrack. That means winning in America’s community and empowering our youth. Giving a voice to the unheard and impacting all races on and off the racetrack. This is Trackhouse. This is 2021, and I’m proud to welcome Pitbull as team partner.”

We're going worldwide.

Welcome to the House, @pitbull. pic.twitter.com/SR9WhzYsut

— Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) January 15, 2021

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

Alex Bowman confident as he returns to racing from back injury

By Mike HembreeMay 27, 2023, 4:57 PM EDT

CONCORD, N.C. — Alex Bowman watched the rain-filled skies over Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday with more than a touch of disappointment.

As weather threatened to cancel Saturday night’s scheduled NASCAR Cup Series practice at the speedway, Bowman saw his chances to testing his car — and his body — dissolving in the raindrops. NASCAR ultimately cancelled practice and qualifying because of rain.

MORE: Wet weather cancels Charlotte Cup practice, qualifying

Bowman suffered a fractured vertebra in a sprint car accident last month and has missed three Cup races while he recovers. Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, the season’s longest race, is scheduled to mark his return to the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet.

“It would have been really nice to kickstart that with practice today,” Bowman said. “I haven’t raced or competitively driven a race car in a month. I’m trying to understand where my rusty areas are going to be and where I’m still good.”

Bowman ran 200 laps in a test season at North Wilkesboro Speedway this week, but, of course, that doesn’t compare with the faster speeds and tougher G-forces he’ll experience over 400 laps Sunday at CMS.

Bowman admitted that he is still experiencing pain from the back injury — his car flipped several times — and that he expects some pain during the race. But he said he is confident he’ll be OK and that the longer race distance won’t be an issue.

“I broke my back a month ago, and there’s definitely things that come along with that for a long time,” he said. “I have some discomfort here and there and there are things I do that don’t feel good. That’s just part of it. It’s stuff I’ll have to deal with. But, for the most part, I’m back to normal.

“I’m easing back into being in the gym. I’m trying to be smart with things. If I twist the wrong way, sometimes it hurts. In the race car at the end of a six-hour race, I’m probably not going to be the best.”

The sprint car crash interrupted what had been a fine seasonal start for Bowman. Although winless, he had three top fives and six top 10s in the first 10 races.

“I’m excited to be back,” Bowman said. “Hopefully, we can pick up where we left off and be strong right out of the gate.”

He said he hopes to return to short-track racing but not in the near future.

“Someday I want to get back in a sprint car or midget,” he said. “I felt like we were just getting rolling in a sprint car. That night we were pretty fast. Definitely a bummer there. That’s something I really want to conquer and be competitive at in the World of Outlaws or High Limits races. Somebody I’ll get back to that. It’s probably smart if I give my day job a little alone time for a bit.”

Charlotte NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup: Rain cancels qualifying

By Mike HembreeMay 27, 2023, 4:30 PM EDT

CONCORD, N.C. — William Byron and Kevin Harvick will start Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the front row after wet weather cancelled Saturday night qualifying.

Rain pelted the CMS area much of the day Saturday, and NASCAR announced at 3:45 p.m. that Cup practice and qualifying, scheduled for Saturday night, had been cancelled.

MORE: Alex Bowman confident as he returns to cockpit

The starting field was set by the NASCAR rulebook.

Following Byron and Harvick in the starting top 10 will be Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The elimination of the practice session was particularly problematic for Alex Bowman, scheduled to return to racing Sunday after missing three weeks with a back injury, and Jimmie Johnson, who will be starting only his third race this year. Johnson will start 37th — last in the field.

Charlotte Cup starting lineup

Wet weather cancels Charlotte Cup Series practice, qualifying

By Mike HembreeMay 27, 2023, 4:11 PM EDT

CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR Cup Series drivers will start the longest race of the season with no practice or qualifying.

Wet weather and predictions of more to come led NASCAR to cancel Saturday night’s Cup Series practice and qualifying in mid-afternoon. The field for Sunday’s 600-mile race was set by the NASCAR rulebook, placing William Byron and Kevin Harvick on the front row for the scheduled 6 p.m. start.

MORE: Charlotte Cup starting lineup

MORE: Alex Bowman confident as he returns to cockpit

Weather also could be an issue Sunday as more rain is predicted for the speedway area.

Drivers were scheduled to practice at 7 p.m. Saturday. That session was to be followed by qualifying at 7:45 p.m. The cancellations were announced at 3:45 p.m.

The time-trial cancellation marked the first time in 64 years that qualifying has been canceled for the 600.

Charlotte Xfinity race postponed to Monday by weather

By Mike HembreeMay 27, 2023, 3:59 PM EDT

CONCORD, N.C. — Persistent rain forced the postponement of Saturday’s scheduled 300-mile NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway to Monday.

The race is scheduled to start at noon ET. It will be televised by FS1 and broadcast by the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Driver introductions and other pre-race activities were held at the track Saturday, but rain that had dampened the track in the morning hours returned. After several attempts at drying the track, the race was postponed after heavier rain returned in mid-afternoon.

Justin Allgaier will start the race from the pole position.

Read more about NASCAR

MORE: Wet weather cancels Charlotte Cup practice, qualifying

Read more about NASCAR

MORE: Alex Bowman confident as he returns to cockpit

Charlotte Cup starting lineup

Read more about NASCAR

MORE: Charlotte Cup starting lineup

MORE: Alex Bowman confident as he returns to cockpit

Read more about NASCAR

Read more about NASCAR