Four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves will join Trackhouse Racing to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2025 Daytona 500.
The Sao Paulo, Brazil native will drive Trackhouse Racing’s PROJECT91 entry in the No. 91 Wendy’s Chevrolet with Darian Grubb as Crew Chief.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would enter a NASCAR race and certainly not the Daytona 500 with a team like Trackhouse Racing,” said Castroneves.
“This is an opportunity that nobody in their right mind could ever turn down. I am so thankful to Wendy’s for allowing me to wear their uniform and drive their car, (Trackhouse owner) Justin Marks and everyone that made this happen. I wish the race were tomorrow!”
Should he win, Castroneves would join an elite group of just AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti as winners of both the Indy 500 and Daytona 500.
He will have fulltime Cup drivers Daniel Suárez, Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen as teammates for the February 16 race.
Despite boasting a record of three 24 Hours of Daytona victories and the 2020 IMSA title, in addition to his four Indy 500 wins, Castroneves realises expecting a victory in his debut might be unrealistic but knows he will have the equipment to succeed.
“I know how much of a challenge this is going to be, but I also know the type of people and team Trackhouse Racing will bring to the effort,” he said.
“I can’t wait to get to the Trackhouse race shop in North Carolina to meet everyone and prepare for Daytona. There is so much I must learn and I’m ready to get started.”
Trackhouse owner Justin Marks expressed his excitement of having Castroneves join the team as a part of the programme that saw the likes of Kimi Raikkonen and van Gisbergen make their NASCAR debuts.
It’s the same programme van Gisbergen won the Chicago Street Race as a part of, eventually leading to his United States move.
“Hélio is one of the greatest drivers of all time and exactly the type of driver we want to bring to NASCAR,” said Marks.
“I think race fans around the world will be excited to see Hélio in NASCAR’s most prestigious race. It also exposes our sport to a global audience and allows them to see just how great of a series we have in NASCAR.”
Castroneves’ first hurdle will come in the form of the Duels in the lead up to the Daytona 500. He will be one of several open entries vying for a spot in the event, where unchartered cars must race their way into the Daytona 500 through the Duel races.
This year’s open field is shaping up to be one of the largest in recent Daytona 500 history, with notable participants expected to include former Cup champions Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson. While 36 cars are guaranteed spots on the 40-car grid through charters, the remaining four positions will be determined by the open entries
The Duels at Daytona take place on February 13, before the famed race on February 16.
Van Gisbergen’s 2025 NASCAR season begins on February 2 with the Clash at Bowman Gray, a non-points round on the quarter-mile oval that welcomes the Cup Series for their first competitive visit since 1971.
Header Image: Joe Skibinski/ Penske Entertainment
