What began as a bold vision became instant success. Rum Bum Racing entered GRAND-AM competition in 2010 and immediately announced their presence with a victory in their very first race at Daytona International Speedway.

Founder Luis Bacardi and driver Gian Bacardi paired with Matt Plumb behind the wheel of the BMW M3, and the results spoke for themselves — three victories and ten podium finishes in their debut season.

The team finished 5th overall in championship standings and contributed to BMW’s Manufacturer Championship, proving that Rum Bum Racing was not just a new name in the paddock, but a genuine contender.

The 2012 season was nothing short of dominant. Rum Bum Racing won five of ten races — a 50% win rate that commanded attention from every team in the paddock.

The season featured a bold mid-year switch from the BMW M3 to the Porsche 997, a gamble that paid off immediately with a victory at Barber Motorsports Park in the car’s debut. The team went on to win at Homestead, Road America, Watkins Glen, and clinched the GRAND-AM Team Championship at Lime Rock Park.

The 2011 season solidified Rum Bum Racing’s position as a frontrunner. With Matt Plumb and Nick Longhi now a proven pairing behind the wheel of the BMW M3, the team delivered another three-win season.

A repeat victory at Daytona proved the debut-year success was no fluke. Wins at Lime Rock Park and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course demonstrated versatility across different track types, while the team contributed to BMW’s second consecutive Manufacturer Championship.

The 2015 season was Rum Bum Racing’s strongest showing since the championship years. Four victories — at Daytona, Road America, Virginia International Raceway, and beyond — put the team back in championship contention.

The Plumb brothers showed increasing chemistry, with Hugh Plumb earning a pole position at Daytona and Matt Plumb continuing to rewrite the record books. A third Road America win in four years cemented that circuit as one of the team’s most dominant tracks.

The final chapter of Rum Bum Racing was written the same way the first one was — with speed, passion, and podium finishes.

The 2016 season opened with Hugh Plumb claiming pole position at Daytona, setting the tone for what would be a fiercely competitive final year. Four victories and eight podiums in eleven races — consistency that rivaled the championship seasons — proved the team had lost none of its edge.

The 2014 season marked a new chapter. Hugh Plumb joined as co-driver alongside brother Matt Plumb, while championship partner Nick Longhi transitioned from the cockpit to the engineering side as Technical Director.

Despite the driver lineup changes, the team remained competitive — winning at Kansas Speedway and claiming multiple podiums throughout the season. A 4th place championship finish proved the new Plumb brothers pairing had immediate chemistry.

Matt Plumb’s career wins total continued to climb, establishing him as the winningest driver in IMSA Continental Tire history with 21 victories — a record that still stands.

Defending a championship is harder than winning one — and Rum Bum Racing made it look routine. The 2013 season delivered a second consecutive Team Championship and the team’s first-ever Driver’s Championship for Matt Plumb and Nick Longhi.

Three victories at Barber Motorsports Park, Mid-Ohio, and Road America anchored a season of consistency — 7 podiums and 9 top-5 finishes in 11 starts. The mid-season debut of the in-house built Porsche 997 GTS at Mid-Ohio showed the team’s growing engineering capability.

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.

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.

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!

The post Rum Bum Racing Likes: appeared first on Rum Bum Racing ®.

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!