06/21/21 01:45:00
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06/21 01:44 CDT NASCAR co-owner Pitbull mixing racing with upcoming tour
NASCAR co-owner Pitbull mixing racing with upcoming tour
By TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer
LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) --- The man known as Mr. Worldwide is ready to get back to
his main business, even as he spends more and more time with his latest
investment in NASCAR.
Pitbull's new tour titled "I Don't Know About You But I Feel Good" starts July
25 as the Grammy-winning rapper moves from the racetrack back to the stage. He
said he knows everyone wants to dance, escape and enjoy the world again.
"Everything that happened in 2020 is something I think is a tremendous lesson
and story for the whole world that they should appreciate life and now I can
share that with the public," Pitbull said.
Pitbull has been very busy in racing since becoming a co-owner of the new
NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing in January before the Daytona 500. He attended
Sunday's Cup race at the Nashville Superspeedway and praised the devotion of
NASCAR fans.
"To see the passion, to see the loyalty, to see the willingness to just run
through a wall for the team that they love," Pitbull said.
He related an experience at the Daytona 500 in February when someone approached
him at a chain restaurant across the street from the speedway and told Pitbull
he didn't dress like a NASCAR owner. The rapper bought the man a couple shots
--- "I said yeah, but I do drink like a NASCAR owner, don't I?" --- and after a
few more rounds and selfies, the fans paid the bill.
"And that just showed a lot to me," Pitbull said. "Not too many people do those
kinds of things, especially in today's day and age where it's all about instant
gratification; grab your photo, grab your video, do this for me, do that for
me. Just that sense of gratitude showed me a very pleasant experience and it's
been amazing."
Pitbull said he loves both NASCAR and music and the two are part of his vision
to unite people and show the opportunities that exist for all cultures.
"Everyone here is a human being," Pitbull said. "And if I can use a car,
NASCAR, the races and music to do that, to unite people, that is an honor, a
tremendous opportunity and a tremendous platform to be able to do that."
Daniel Suarez, the driver for Trackhouse Racing, said he has known Pitbull for
about three years after the two were introduced by Mexican billionaire Carlos
Slim. Suarez said the rapper brings energy and a different perspective and he
isn't afraid to share when he has the opportunity.
"I didn't know he was going to be this involved," Suarez said. "He's a very
busy person, and I mean he's been to a handful of races already this year. He
loves racing."
Suarez in front of his new boss finished seventh at Nashville for just his
third top-10 of the season. He's excelled this season at tracks that have had
practice and qualifying because it gives the new team critical information
ahead of the race.
Pitbull's entertainment expertise already is proving helpful for Trackhouse.
Co-owner Justin Marks is a Nashville resident who wants the team operating in
Music City in the heart of its downtown entertainment district by 2023 to
connect with fans wanting to check out a NASCAR team at work.
The team raced at the superspeedway with sponsorship by famed honky tonk
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. The No. 99 Chevrolet featured a pair of large orchids
matching Tootsie's iconic building on Lower Broadway for the first Cup race in
the Nashville-area in 37 years.
The Nashville touches even included Suarez's fire suit with the feet looking
like black and white cowboy boots.
"I never had a suit with boots," Suarez said. "I'm going to be honest, I'm not
a huge boot person, but these things look pretty good on me."
___
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