Trackhouse Racing, which has surged in prominence on the NASCAR scene, particularly after Ross Chastain’s breakout 2022 season, is now the subject of intense speculation regarding the future involvement of co-owner and Grammy-award-winning artist Armando Pérez, better known as Pitbull.
Pitbull joined the team in 2021. However, recent developments suggest a potential change in the ownership structure and igniting rumors of Pitbull’s departure, as reported by Essentially Sports.
Founded in 2020 by former NASCAR driver Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing quickly rose to prominence not just for its competitive performance but also due to its high-profile co-owner, Pitbull, who joined the team a year later. The artist had previously discueed the partnership, as quoted in the same report from Essentially Sports:
“Underdogs, one thing we love is a challenge. We love when people tell us no, don’t, won’t, never will happen, crazy, stupid, impossible. Those are words that fuel us.”
The recent acquisition of a significant minority stake by billionaire Marc Lasry’s Avenue Sports Fund has introduced new dynamics into the ownership structure, potentially diluting existing stakes. This move, coupled with a noticeable tweak in the social media description of Justin Marks from “co-owner” to “owner,” has fueled speculation about Pitbull’s continued involvement in the team.
The uncertainty has been compounded by ongoing negotiations around driver Daniel Suarez’s contract renewal. In a recent interview with Fox, Suarez mentioned:
“Yeah. I definitely think Trackhouse is the place to be. Honestly, today, I wouldn’t trade Trackhouse for any other team. It doesn’t matter if it’s Gibbs, Hendrick, whatever, I wouldn’t trade it. And the reason for that is for how the entire organization believe in each other and how they’ve given me the opportunity to grow the 99 team — those are things I didn’t have in the past. That, to me, can be the difference between being a good team or a great team. I’m not saying that we’re a great team just yet, but we have the potential to do it.”
In the same interview, Suarez also commented on feeling at home with Trackhouse Racing:
“For the very first time in my Cup career, I feel that way. I truly believe that. When I was at Gibbs, I was hoping that I was going to make my career at Gibbs and I was going to grow and be one of those drivers like Denny Hamlin, like Kyle Busch — those drivers who made a long career in one place.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the cards for me, and I was bouncing from team to team until now, finally, I found the place where they don’t just believe in me, but also my voice has a weight and I’m able to make adjustments in my team and the organization based on what I see and what I feel.
“And they’ve been giving me the opportunity to be able to build the organization the way I think it should, especially the 99 team. I feel like I found a home. And that’s why I wouldn’t trade Trackhouse for anything else.
“Just because I’ve been in top organizations in the past, and if you don’t have a voice, it’s very difficult to be successful. I think I have that at Trackhouse. And we’re still a young team, and I feel like the future is very bright for the 99 and for Trackhouse.”
The implications of these ownership changes raise questions about the team’s future direction. The aspirations to expand into other motorsports areas such as MotoGP as the satellite team of Aprilia, supported by new investment, suggest a broadening of the team’s ambitions. However, how this aligns with the passions and the future roles of existing stakeholders like Pitbull remains to be seen.
Uncommon Knowledge
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