TRACKHOUSE Racing is the NASCAR outfit which prides itself on being a positive disruptive force.
It’s a team which Australasian motorsport fans might soon become a whole lot more familiar with, given three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen is set to make his Cup Series debut for them later this year.
Oh, and it’s also co-owned by music sensation Pitbull.
“Clearly it has been disruptive in a very positive way in the sport,” Pitbull beamed in a media conference on Thursday, after naming his new album Trackhouse.
One of the most exciting elements associated with Trackhouse is its Project91 part-time entry designed to bring international motorsport stars from other categories into NASCAR.
That so far has involved a pair of cameo appearances for 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, and it’s in the #91 Chevrolet that van Gisbergen will race, most likely in early July at the Chicago Street Course.
Pitbull says Trackhouse’s journey in NASCAR mirrors the “nothing to something” story and “underdog mentality” of his own music career.
Trackhouse boss Justin Marks labelled Pitbull’s involvement in the team as amazing.
“It’s about trying to create something great in the world and something that’s memorable and something that resonates with as many people and inspires as many people as possible,” said Marks.
“Really, it’s a creative collaboration and it’s an alignment in stories.
“It has given us certainly an opportunity to have a partner that’s very creative and has a very different life experience and sees the world through a different lens but at the same time sees the same opportunity and is motivated by the same things.
“That’s telling great stories and inspiring and motivating people and trying to change people’s life and do it in a very difficult game.”
Marks wants Trackhouse to inspire other teams and the category itself to evolve, to which Pitbull added: “I look at this as the same way the Lakers were for the NBA in the ‘80s: it’s showtime.
“This is a different way of thinking; it’s unconventional, it’s untraditional.
“We’re not here to disrespect anybody but more than anything we’re here to just have fun so the fans have fun and they leave with an amazing experience.”
Trackhouse launched in 2021 and fields full-time Cup Series entries for Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez.
