Luis Bacardi is the visionary founder and owner of Rum Bum Racing. A direct descendant of Facundo Bacardi—founder of the famous liquor company—Luis is an American entrepreneur who discovered the power of motorsports marketing in 2008 while sponsoring a racing program to promote a new business venture.

From Sponsor to Team Owner

That initial exposure to motorsports transformed Luis into a true racing aficionado. He saw firsthand the incredible marketing value that racing provided—the visibility, the passion of the fans, and the prestige of competition. It was such a powerful tool for his businesses that by 2010, he had built his own Rum Bum Racing organization.

The BMW M3 was Rum Bum Racing’s first competition car, carrying the team to an incredible debut and establishing the foundation for everything that followed.

The Beginning

When Rum Bum Racing entered the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in 2010, they chose the BMW M3 (E90/E92) as their weapon of choice. The decision proved inspired—the team won their very first race at Daytona International Speedway with Matt Plumb and Gian Bacardi behind the wheel.

Hugh Plumb, Matt’s older brother, joined Rum Bum Racing when Nick Longhi stepped away from driving duties. The Plumb brothers had previously raced together at Bill Fenton Motorsports, making Hugh a natural fit for the championship-caliber program.

Olympic Heritage

Like his brother Matt, Hugh is the son of Olympic athletes Michael Plumb and Donnan Sharp. While Matt pursued a traditional career in finance before returning to racing, Hugh had continued in motorsports, gaining experience in street bikes and sports car racing.

Gian Bacardi was the founding driver of Rum Bum Racing, taking the wheel when his father Luis launched the team in 2010. A graduate of the Skip Barber Racing School Championship in 2008, Gian brought youthful energy and natural talent to the fledgling program.

At just 19 years old, Gian showed remarkable dedication. His mentor Matt Plumb spoke with glowing pride, noting that just four months before his first race, Gian couldn’t drive a stick shift—yet he quickly progressed to winning races. He crammed years of learning into just a few months through incredible commitment.

Nick Longhi joined Rum Bum Racing in 2010 as a spotter before moving to the driver’s seat mid-season, beginning one of the most successful driver pairings in Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge history.

Professional Background

Beyond his role at Rum Bum Racing, Nick brought extensive professional experience as a race engineer, development driver, and coach across multiple series including Indy Lights, Barber Dodge Pro Series, Speed World Challenge, Rolex GT, Ferrari Challenge, and Historic racing.

The Audi R8 GRAND-AM represented Rum Bum Racing’s ambitious step up to the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona, partnering with Audi Sport customer racing for a memorable debut.

The Rolex 24 Dream

Fresh off their 2012 Continental Tire championship, Rum Bum Racing set their sights higher—competing in the legendary Rolex 24 at Daytona in the GT class. The team partnered with Audi Sport customer racing and secured an incredible driver lineup.

The Porsche 997 transformed Rum Bum Racing from race winners into champions, delivering back-to-back titles and cementing the team’s place in Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge history.

The Switch to Porsche

After two successful seasons with BMW, Rum Bum Racing made the bold decision to switch to Porsche for 2012. The move paid immediate dividends—the team won five of ten races and captured their first championship.

Technical Specifications

• Engine: 3.8-liter naturally aspirated flat-six
• Power: Approximately 450 horsepower
• Transmission: 6-speed sequential
• Class: Grand Sport (GS)

2012: The Breakthrough

The Porsche’s debut season was nothing short of spectacular:

Matt Plumb served as both lead driver and General Manager of Rum Bum Racing, guiding the team from concept to the most successful program in Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge history. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Economics from the University of Virginia.

Early Racing Career

Matt began his racing career in 1997, winning the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Championship in his rookie season with an incredible 13 wins. Since then, he accumulated over 20 professional victories while competing in six different championships before joining Rum Bum Racing. If it has a steering wheel and tires, he can drive it.

Joe Varde brought over 30 years of professional motorsports experience to Rum Bum Racing as Team Manager, providing the operational expertise that transformed a young team into championship contenders.

A Career of Excellence

Before joining Rum Bum Racing, Joe had already accumulated an extraordinary record: 6 professional championships and 57 victories across various racing series. His wealth of experience in team operations, race strategy, and personnel management made him the perfect choice to lead the team’s trackside efforts.

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Here’s the schedule for NASCAR champion’s week Nashville, Tennessee is set to host the NASCAR Awards ceremony. The show takes place at Music City Center. View the 2022 NASCAR Awards schedule below. All 16 NASCAR Cup Series playoff drivers will be in attendance. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver will be announced during the show. Thursday’s NASCAR Awards will not be shown live. Instead, the show will air via a tape delay on Saturday.   **NASCAR Cup Series **Champion: Joey Logano ** ** **NASCAR Xfinity Series **Champion: Ty Gibbs ** ** **NASCAR Truck Series **Champion: Zane Smith Country music artist Erin Kinsey will perform during the show. ** ** NASCAR Awards Show 2022 Schedule **5:00PM CT **Music City Center  ** ** 8:00pm ET December 3, 2022 Peacock (Tape Delayed)

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From the Family at Rum Bum Racing:

Merry Christmas from all the good folks at Rum Bum Racing!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2022!! HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023!!

This Saturday from 5 pm to 10 pm car show at Cheddars located at 16455 SW 88 Street Miami Fl 33196. Parking is in the back. All free event. All cars makes models years clubs etc. are welcome. Please respect our simple rules: no burnouts no peeling out no loud music or open containers. Thank you all for your continued support. For more information follow us on Instagram @kustomwheelscarshowmiami or on Facebook @ Kustom Wheels Car Show.

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This Saturday from 5 pm to 10 pm car show at Cheddars located at 16455 SW 88 Street Miami Fl 33196. Parking is in the back. All free event. All cars makes models years clubs etc. are welcome. Please respect our simple rules: no burnouts no peeling out no loud music or open containers. Thank you all for your continued support. For more information follow us on Instagram @kustomwheelscarshowmiami or on Facebook @ Kustom Wheels Car Show.

BIG NEWS!!!

MOTORCAR CAVALCADE

When: JANUARY 14-15, 2023

Where: JW Marriott Turnberry Resort and Spa (Aventura, FL)

Event: Motorcar Cavalcade Concours d’Elegance

Link: motorcarcavalcade.com  (for details) 

“Launching the New Year with an unforgettable unification of cars, cuisine and lifestyle.”

GOOD CAUSE TOO: BENEFITS THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY!

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BIG NEWS!!!

MOTORCAR CAVALCADE

When: JANUARY 14-15, 2023

Where: JW Marriott Turnberry Resort and Spa (Aventura, FL)

Event: Motorcar Cavalcade Concours d’Elegance

Link: motorcarcavalcade.com  (for details) 

“Launching the New Year with an unforgettable unification of cars, cuisine and lifestyle.”

GOOD CAUSE TOO: BENEFITS THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY!

After more than a decade of competition, Rum Bum Racing took to the grid one final time at Sebring International Raceway. The team that had become synonymous with Porsche endurance racing in North America was about to write its last chapter.

The Final Start

As the green flag dropped on the 12 Hours of Sebring, emotions ran high in the Rum Bum Racing pit. Crew members who had been with the team since the beginning stood shoulder to shoulder with newcomers, all united in their determination to give the program a proper sendoff.

It is with mixed emotions that we announce 2022 will be Rum Bum Racing’s final season of competition.

A Difficult Decision

After careful consideration, the team has decided to conclude operations at the end of the 2022 racing season. This decision was not made lightly, but reflects the natural evolution of the program and the changing landscape of sports car racing.

Gratitude

We want to express our deepest gratitude to:

As the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship heads into its summer break, Rum Bum Racing finds itself in an enviable position atop the class standings.

The Story So Far

Through six rounds of competition, consistency has been the hallmark of the Rum Bum Racing campaign:

• 1 victory (Daytona)
• 3 additional podiums
• Zero mechanical DNFs

Points Breakdown

The team holds a comfortable lead in the championship standings, but with several rounds remaining, nothing is certain. The technical team has been working diligently to maintain the Porsche’s competitive edge.

Luis Bacardi’s RUM BUM® empire may soon rev up old No. 13 (the RUM BUM® racing Porsche) for more IMSA races.

Stay tuned for more details, as they become available.

RUM BUM® Information:

The RUM BUM® racing team had a great run from 2010-2015:

2010: 3 Wins (Daytona, Trois-Rivieres, Miller Motorsports Park)

BMW Manufacturer Championship

2011: 3 Wins (Daytona, Lime Rock Park, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course)

BMW Manufacturer Championship

2012: 5 Wins (Barber Motorsports Park, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Road America, Watkins Glen, Lime Rock Park)

IMSA Team Champions, Porsche wins Manufacturer Championship

2013: 3 Wins (Barber Motorsports Park, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Road America)

IMSA Team and Driver Champions, Porsche wins Manufacturer Championship

2014: 1 Win (Kansas Speedway)

2015: 3 Wins (Daytona, Road America, Virginia International Raceway)

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Luis Bacardi’s RUM BUM® empire may soon rev up old No. 13 (the RUM BUM® racing Porsche) for more IMSA races.

Stay tuned for more details, as they become available.

RUM BUM® Information:

The RUM BUM® racing team had a great run from 2010-2015:

2010: 3 Wins (Daytona, Trois-Rivieres, Miller Motorsports Park)

BMW Manufacturer Championship

2011: 3 Wins (Daytona, Lime Rock Park, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course)

BMW Manufacturer Championship

2012: 5 Wins (Barber Motorsports Park, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Road America, Watkins Glen, Lime Rock Park)

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