NASCAR has long embraced celebrity star power to enhance its race day experiences, creating memorable moments for fans across decades of competition. The list goes from actor Matthew McConaughey waving the green flag at the 2005 Daytona 500 to former NFL star Rob Gronkowski serving as honorary pace car driver in the 2015 Xfinity Series. The sport’s connection with entertainment royalty indeed runs deep.
This weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, that tradition continues with a significant nod to South Florida’s vibrant Latin music scene. The Straight Talk Wireless 400 will feature not one but two major Latin music acts in official capacities. Further cementing NASCAR’s commitment to embracing diverse cultural influences, particularly in a region where Hispanic heritage is deeply embedded.
Grammy Award-winner Juan Luis Morera Luna, known professionally as Wisin, will serve as the honorary pace car driver for the NASCAR Miami race happening this Sunday. A pioneering force in reggaeton music, Wisin rose to prominence as half of the duo Wisin & Yandel before establishing a successful solo career. His impressive resume includes more than 22 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart and an astounding 1.5 billion streams in the United States alone. Solo hits like “Adrenalina” featuring Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin and “Que Viva la Vida” have cemented his status as one of Latin music’s most influential figures.
What makes Wisin’s appointment particularly noteworthy is his professional connection to Armando Christian Pérez – better known as Pitbull – who made headlines in January 2021 by becoming co-owner of Trackhouse Racing, and later ended up quitting. The two music superstars have collaborated on multiple chart-topping tracks that blend reggaeton rhythms with global pop sensibilities. Their 2014 collaboration “Control,” which also featured Chris Brown, appeared on Wisin’s album “El Regreso del Sobreviviente.”
The relationship between Wisin and Pitbull extended further with their 2015 track “Baddest Girl in Town,” which also featured Mohombi. Their parallel journeys from Latin music pioneers to mainstream crossover success mirror NASCAR’s own evolution toward embracing diverse cultural influences.
Homestead-Miami Speedway announced that Wisin won’t be the only Latin music royalty present for Sunday’s NASCAR Miami race. The iconic Cuban duo Gente de Zona, composed of Randy Malcom and Alexander Delgado, will serve as honorary event officials. “Wisin and Gente de Zona are revolutionary musicians who are a perfect example of the same South Florida energy that we have at Homestead-Miami Speedway,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Guillermo Santa Cruz in the official announcement. “Their music brings together fans across all musical genres and they’ll bring the perfect Miami vibe to what promises to be another spectacular day at the races here in Homestead.”
Mr. Worldwide’s Track From Entry to Exit In NASCAR
Pitbull joined Trackhouse Racing in January 2021 as a co-owner alongside founder Justin Marks, inspired by a lifelong fascination with NASCAR that began when he watched the movie “Days of Thunder” in his youth. As he stated during the announcement of his ownership, “As soon as I met Justin, Ty Norris, and Daniel, we were on the same page. They welcomed me aboard, and now we’re going to show the world NASCAR is not only a sport but it’s a culture.” His involvement was multifaceted – not just as a team owner but as an ambassador tasked with amplifying NASCAR’s global reach and introducing the sport to new, diverse audiences.
During his tenure with Trackhouse Racing, Pitbull helped transform what began as a single-car operation into one of NASCAR’s emerging powerhouse programs. The team earned seven Cup Series wins with him as co-owner – five with Ross Chastain, two with Daniel Suarez, and one with Shane van Gisbergen – while also finishing second in the championship standings with Chastain in 2022. Beyond the track, Pitbull leveraged his position to support educational initiatives, including the launch of a racing-themed STEM curriculum within his SLAM! (Sports Leadership Arts and Management) charter schools established seven years earlier.
After four successful years, Pitbull ended his partnership with Trackhouse Racing in February 2025, making the announcement just prior to performing a pre-race concert at the Daytona 500. Although specific reasons for his departure weren’t explicitly stated, team founder Justin Marks stated “We sort of just looked at everything that we’ve done together… It’s just become this big machine and he had an opportunity to sort of hang his hat on everything that we’ve done so far. You know you’ve got an opportunity here to know to walk away and you know be rewarded for that and he did, so it was great. I think it’s a successful business story and there’s no drama around it”.
In his departure statement, Pitbull reflected, “Over the past five years, we’ve made history by introducing NASCAR to a whole new audience and falling in love with NASCAR fans at the same time,” suggesting his mission to broaden NASCAR’s cultural footprint had been accomplished.
The Straight Talk Wireless 400 at NASCAR Miami race takes place Sunday, March 23, at 3:00 p.m. ET, culminating a full weekend of racing that includes the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health 200 on Friday and the NASCAR Xfinity Series Hard Rock Bet 300 on Saturday.
The post Who Is Pace Car Driver for NASCAR Cup Series Race in Homestead Miami? What’s His Connection to Ex-Trackhouse Boss Pitbull appeared first on EssentiallySports.