Pitbull is known for a lot of things, but many of us would never associate him with the world of NASCAR.
The 42-year-old rapper is easily best known for his contributions to the world of music, but — like most celebrities — he eventually put his energy into other avenues as well. His activism has increased exponentially in recent years as, for more than a decade now, the rapper has poured money and effort into closing the poverty gap in Miami’s Little Havana, his hometown. He also initiated a number of other efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting on a performance for first responders, raising money through song releases, and using his private plane to transport cancer patients to their appointments.
As it turns out, Mr. Worldwide is far more than he appears on the surface. His music is still easily Pitbull’s biggest claim to fame, but it’s far from the only thing he’ll be remembered for.
Pitbull’s NASCAR team
Take his NASCAR team. Pitbull, like anyone, is bound to have plenty of interests outside music, but only his most attentive fans were aware that he’s been involved in NASCAR for several years now. He became co-owner of Trackhouse, a Cup Series team, back in 2021, and has honored his new investment in several ways since.
The most recent of these was through Pitbull’s latest album release. The artist’s 2023 album, released in early October, is titled Trackhouse, after his racing team. The album shot to the top of the U.S. ITunes Latin Album Charts, and features guest appearances from a range of popular artists including T-Pain, El Micha, Omar Courtz, and the Gipsy Kings.
Trackhouse — the team, not the album — honored their new co-owner, and his nod to the team, during several races in 2023. Following news of his upcoming album, the team debuted a new look for driver Daniel Suarez’s vehicle. For a late April race, Suarez’s No. 99 Chevrolet was adorned in a “Trackhouse blue” homage to the album cover, complete with a nod to the Miami cityscape.
Pitbull’s involvement with his new team is almost guaranteed to increase in the coming years, as the rapper finds more time between his musical exploits to enjoy the races. His team entered its third season in 2023, according to NASCAR’s official website, and are fielding two separate cars. Suarez’s No. 99 is already a favorite, but he was joined this year by Ross Chastain, who’s driving the No. 1. Chastain.
Who knows, maybe someday he’ll be better known as the NASCAR guy than as Mr. Worldwide.