While Pitbull is set to perform at Sunday’s Daytona 500 pre-race event, he will no longer be seen as a team owner. Announcing his departure on Friday, Pitbull stated, “We have made the decision to terminate the partnership with Trackhouse Racing, effective immediately.” Trackhouse Racing currently fields three full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries for Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Shane van Gisbergen.
Additionally, Helio Castroneves will compete for the team in Sunday’s Daytona 500. Pitbull’s exit could have significant implications for Daniel Suarez, as their association was closely linked. With his future at Trackhouse uncertain, the next three weeks will be crucial for Suarez to solidify his standing within the team.
Pitbull had a considerable role to play in Trackhouse Racing
Pitbull, or Armando Pérez, played a key role in Trackhouse Racing’s rise to popularity. He joined the team in 2021 and ensured that NASCAR as a sport could widen its horizons. From attending races to giving the start command at the 2021 Daytona 500 and even performing a pre-race concert at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2022, his presence added significant star power to his team. He was all set to perform for last year’s Daytona 500. However, due to rain delays, Pitbull missed out on the rescheduled event.
While Trackhouse has continued to grow, Pitbull’s departure raises serious concerns about Daniel Suarez’s future with the team. He is currently in an uncertain contract and his drive beyond 2025 lies in the doldrums. Speaking of the same, NASCAR expert, Eric Estepp rightfully pointed out, “I do believe this could have an impact on Daniel Suarez’s future. Suarez signed a one-year extension last season. He is in a contract year and does not have a deal for 2026, and he admitted again during media day this week that early last season, Suarez and Marks were having their doubts about this relationship. But that does not change the fact that Daniel Suarez does not have a deal done for next season……It doesn’t change the fact that, overall, he has been inconsistent since joining Team Trackhouse.”
Till now, Suarez has got only two career wins in 252 Cup starts and a one-year contract extension hanging over him. While the situation has worsened in the past few months, his 2024 campaign started with promise. The Mexican driver was able to claim an electrifying Atlanta win by just 0.003 seconds over Ryan Blaney. However, as the season moved ahead, he could manage only four top-five finishes and ended the year 12th in the standings. The team has proven last year that there is no room for mediocre drivers in Trackhouse. Last year, Zane Smith was pushed out to make room for Shane van Gisbergen. History could repeat itself yet again, given that Suarez is already under threat after Connor Zilsch’s rising prowess.
However, with the recent departure of Pitbull, things have intensified. Pitbull entered Trackhouse Racing via Daniel Suarez and his investments played a pivotal role in the restructuring of the organization. Whether Suarez will be able to salvage himself and secure a seat on the team is a test of time. His focus is not just on one-time wins, it is based on building his long-term career in NASCAR. But, he has been inconsistent since joining the team and a young Connor Zilisch is slowly rising the ranks! How does one bounce back in such a situation? Turns out, performance speaks for itself.
Speaking of the current condition he is in, the mindset for Suarez is to win as many races as he can. He said, “At the end of the day, I’m only worried about myself. I worry about how can I bring myself to have the best opportunity possible to win multiple races a year. That’s my main goal.” Hope is not entirely lost, as Suárez’s strong winning record in Atlanta could work in his favor.
Suarez’s optimism shines through in hard times
The current status of the team is under scrutiny, given that the team is going through major changes. The team had a strong 2022 season, securing three wins—two from Ross Chastain, who also finished runner-up in the championship, and one from Suárez, marking his first NASCAR Cup Series victory at Sonoma Raceway.
However, Suárez went winless in 2023, while Chastain claimed two victories, and Trackhouse Racing added another win with Shane van Gisbergen on the Chicago street course. Speaking of how the winning mechanism, Suarez said, “There are a lot of things that we have to do to be able to perform – not only me. Yes, I’m a very important factor in it, but we have to continue to get better as a group. I think Trackhouse does an amazing job with Project 91 and getting this driver (while he’s) young and doing all these different things…..Trackhouse has been nothing but great to me and we’ve been working together very hard to be able to bring Trackhouse to the next level, and that has been my goal.”
Despite the challenges, Suárez remains committed to pushing Trackhouse Racing forward, embracing both his role and the team’s evolving vision. With his determination and the team’s ambitious approach, 2025 could be a defining year for both Suárez and the Trackhouse team.
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