International love... for the racetrack? Pitbull, 'Mr. Worldwide,' voices support for saving Palm Beach International Raceway

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Music performer Pitbull is the latest auto enthusiast to sign on to the effort to preserve — and upgrade — the Palm Beach International Raceway.

“It is a true honor and an amazing opportunity to help in this important effort to save Palm Beach International Raceway. Bringing together community and culture to create generational experiences is priceless,” said Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, in a statement. “We look forward to making history in West Palm Beach like we’ve done in music, NASCAR and education, Dale!” 

Corey Saban, who is helping to manage the effort, said Pitbull is just one of thousands of "celebrities, car enthusiasts, residents and leaders" who have vocalized their desire to keep the raceway. The list includes 1985 Indianapolis 500 champion Danny Sullivan and musician John Oates from Hall & Oates. Pitbull and Oates, who have connections to auto racing, have visited the track, Saban said.

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"The track has a rich history here in Palm Beach County," Saban said. "It's legendary."

Saban said the goal of the Save Palm Beach Raceway petition campaign is to raise awareness — and ultimately dissuade county officials from making a land use change allowing for its destruction. He said the savepalmbeachraceway.com website allows supporters of the track to message county commissioners and let them know they don't want the landmark to go away.

"The key thing is just awareness," Saban said. "A lot of people when they hear about the track say, 'Oh, I didn't know there was a threat of it being gone. It's about awareness, it's about engagement." 

Petition seeks to keep Palm Beach International Raceway from land-use change

The campaign was launched to prevent the potential demolition of the nearly 60-year-old facility. The Palm Beach Post has reported the owner of the 149-acre property is in talks to sell the complex to a developer who would potentially tear down the raceway to make way for industrial warehouses, according to business and government leaders.

In fact, industrial land is a hot commodity across Palm Beach County, which has also seen a boom in e-commerce during the coronavirus pandemic. Retailers such as Walmart, Amazon and other giants are gobbling up land for warehouse space needed to fulfill rising demand from customer orders.

The Palm Beach International Raceway property is zoned for industrial property, but it still would need county site plan approval to be redeveloped for another purpose.

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Saban said he understand the need for warehouse and distribution facilities — and the jobs they generate — but says the racetrack site should not be sacrificed given its own potential as a generator of jobs and economic gain.

Saban points out a bid for the track by Formula Race Promotions of New Hampshire, a racing group, pledges to improve the aged track, build for-sale car garages, create event space, and elevate the complex into a world-class attraction for racing enthusiasts and motorsports fans.

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Formula Race Promotions' plan for the site includes building a clubhouse and restaurant that can accommodate not only car-oriented events but charity events as well. The company also would bring its race series to the track, including a series for young or up-and-coming drivers. 

Another potential area of revenue growth could be e-sports by creating a partnership between the track, racing teams and perhaps a local university to create an innovation hub to produce content, he said. For example, students could film videos for a YouTube channel and the e-sports center.

"These guys that are behind the initiative have a wonderful plan to create more jobs, to attract tourists and to hold festivals that are not only geared toward racers but the whole community," he said. "They have some wonderful ideas about getting not only the local  community but job creation, and futuristic and technology jobs, frankly."