Just hours before the 2025 Daytona 500, NASCAR fans were buzzing with excitement. But few expected the seismic news that would drop before engines even started. Pitbull, the chart-topping Latin superstar turned NASCAR co-owner, announced his sudden exit from Trackhouse Racing. His statement was short but powerful. “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. We have decided to terminate the partnership with Trackhouse Racing, effective immediately.”  Pitbull’s departure, just before NASCAR’s biggest race of the year, made it feel even more dramatic. Months have passed since that split. Trackhouse has moved on. So has Pitbull, or so we thought.

But now, in a twist fitting of the man who branded himself Mr. Worldwide, he’s back. Not with a car, not with a pit crew, but with a mic and a spotlight. Pitbull will return to NASCAR grounds this summer for a major new event rewriting both racing and baseball history.

This summer, for the first time, Major League Baseball and NASCAR are teaming up for a historic event. On August 2, 2025, the MLB Speedway Classic will bring baseball to Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. The Atlanta Braves face the Cincinnati Reds in the first-ever MLB game held at a racetrack. Organizers will transform the stadium, famous for its roaring engines and tight racing, into a baseball field, creating a spectacle never before seen in sports.

Adding to the excitement, Pitbull is officially returning. The music icon will take the stage alongside country superstar Tim McGraw for a special pregame concert. MLB announced, “Pitbull is joining Tim McGraw for a pregame concert at the Speedway Classic!” The performance will take place just one hour before the first pitch. Fans can enjoy the concert from their seats or watch it live on the Colossus video board. FOX Sports will feature parts of the performance in its pregame coverage.

It’s a full-circle moment, Pitbull is back where fans first embraced him, but this time, it’s for celebration, not competition. The concert is also a nod to Pitbull’s past collaborations. In 2024, he teamed up with McGraw for “Get Get Get Down,” a high-energy, racing-themed remix of a classic country hit. Their chemistry on stage is electric. Pitbull’s return here feels personal. He has a long history with both NASCAR and MLB. He performed at the 2013 All-Star Game, the 2017 Home Run Derby, and even teamed up with José Iglesias for the 2024 Mets anthem.

For fans, his appearance at Bristol is more than a show, it’s a reunion. Notably, Pitbull’s influence on NASCAR and Trackhouse Racing can’t be overstated. He joined the team in 2021 as a co-owner, helping it grow from a single-car operation into one of NASCAR’s most diverse and energetic teams. During his tenure, Trackhouse collected eight wins. The team became a home for international talent and unique stories, including Shane van Gisbergen’s shocking win in Chicago. The team also expanded its racing journey into MotoGP by forming a new Trackhouse Racing team.

Perhaps, that’s the ending Pitbull wanted. As per what Justin Marks said back in February, “We sort of just looked at everything that we’ve done together and kind of got to a point where it’s like, we’ve sort of accomplished what we set out to do. And I think Armando is really, really happy and proud of the fact that he could contribute to a fledgling operation in a big sport to gain some immediate brand equity and to get our name out into the world and to help do his part in sending us on this great path of success. I think it’s a successful business story and there’s no drama around it. It’s just kind of one of those deals where, you know, we had investors come in and there’s an opportunity there to, to look at the company and set it up for the future.” 

But Pitbull won’t be the only NASCAR legend at the Speedway Classic. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. is also set to appear. He’ll be there in support of the event, bringing back his iconic No. 8 car in a tribute to his memorable 2001 red-and-white Budweiser/MLB All-Star scheme. The throwback is special as Earnhardt last drove a similar scheme in the emotional Pepsi 400 win, just months after the loss of his father. Fans will see the famous No. 8 not just parked, but alive again.

Earnhardt’s legacy at Bristol is deep. He has nine wins there, and he’ll bring both nostalgia and excitement to the event. His return adds emotional weight and racing history to an already unique day. MLB stars and music giants will fill the field, but Earnhardt puts the heart of NASCAR front and center. The 2025 MLB Speedway Classic delivers an unforgettable fusion of sports, music, and legacy. Pitbull makes a powerful return to the NASCAR world he once helped reshape. For fans of both baseball and racing, this moment creates history under the lights at Bristol.

Justin Marks on future Project 91 entries!

As Pitbull is making a comeback to the race track, fans also wonder about the next Project 91 driver lineup. It has thrilled fans by bringing world-class drivers into the NASCAR mix. It gave us Shane van Gisbergen’s shocking street-course win in Chicago. And it brought Helio Castroneves into the Daytona 500. But in 2025, it’s hitting the brakes. But days ahead of the Michigan race, Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks dropped a brutal update on its future.

Marks confirmed they won’t run more PROJECT91 races this year, saying, “I think PROJECT91 is probably one and done this year just because it’s the same group of folks that we use for Connor’s (Zilisch) Cup races and we’re committed to doing a few Cup races with him this year.” The team has shifted its focus for good reason. Zilisch, now a full-time Xfinity Series driver, plays a key role in Trackhouse’s long-term vision. Marks explained, “Running four cars puts a strain on our business. We already achieved our goal with Helio by running at Daytona and pulling off a great marketing program for Wendy’s. Now, we’re really focused on just getting Connor some laps.”

PROJECT91 has already delivered unforgettable moments, most notably Shane van Gisbergen’s surprise win in Chicago in 2023. But now, Marks is steering the program toward rare, meaningful appearances, rather than frequent entries. “I think PROJECT91 lives in a world where it competes once or twice a year, but it’s probably done for this year,” he said. For Marks, the mission remains the same: use Trackhouse to elevate new talent and leave a mark, whether it’s through legends or future stars.