‘Rock,’ Pitbull, DJ Khaled enjoy visit
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The 3-0-5 took over the Daytona 5-0-0.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Pitbull and DJ Khaled represented South Florida at the Daytona 500, as the trio of Sunshine State celebrities brought a dose of star power to Sunday’s scheduled race day that was washed out by rain.
Johnson, a wrestler/actor, stayed for Monday’s rescheduled race and honored his role as the Daytona 500 grand marshal by giving the command for drivers to start their engines.
Pitbull was scheduled to perform the pre-race concert in the Daytona infield, but it was scrapped because of steady rain. He agreed to return in 2025 for the same event. Khaled said he was unable to stay Monday for his role as honorary starter.
The last time the Daytona 500 was postponed a full day was in 2012.
“Who would have ever thought,” Pitbull said, “The Rock, Khaled and Pit at the Daytona 500?”
Khaled moved to Miami — home of the 305 area code — in 1998 to kickstart a radio career that led to Grammy wins and a successful run as a DJ, producer, and song writer. Known as “Mr. Worldwide,” Pitbull was born in Miami and named his debut album “M.I.A.M.I.” before he released massive hits such as “Timber” and “Fireball.”
“It’s incredible to see us all come together for the Daytona 500,” Khaled said. “But to represent Florida is beautiful.”
The 51-year-old Johnson is set to return to wrestling for WrestleMania in April in Philadelphia. The “Fast and the Furious” franchise star played football for Miami and was a reserve on the team’s 1991 national championship team.
“Best college in Florida,” Johnson said. The A-listers stuck around the track to promote their current projects.
Johnson posted an Instagram video of himself driving past Daytona International Speedway late Saturday night, joking he was “up to no good. Trouble. With a capital T.”
“I got a little cooky last night because I couldn’t sleep,” Johnson said Sunday. “I went to the gym at midnight. I drove by the Speedway, all the lights were on, just immediately felt the energy.”
Roll with it, Denny: The Rock offered some advice to NASCAR villain Denny Hamlin: roll with it.
Johnson, whose recent return to the WWE has come in a heel role, said Hamlin should embrace the boos and make them part of his racing persona.
Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, has suddenly become public enemy No. 1 in the Cup Series. He gets jeered more than Kyle Busch when he wins and has leaned into it a little by saying things like “I just beat your favorite driver.”
The Rock would like to see more. “Being the villain is the greatest thing in the world,” The Rock said. “Everybody wants to be a good guy or good girl, everyone wants to be loved and cheered and considered the hero, which is great and it’s natural; it’s just human psychology and desire.
“But I have felt in my career and through my experience — that I’ve been very fortunate to have — is that the rare air is when you have the opportunity and you grab it by the throat and you don’t let it go, and that’s the opportunity to be a great bad guy.”