Helio Castroneves will attempt the 2025 Daytona 500 in the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91, Trackhouse announced Jan. 6.
Castroneves is entering the No. 91 with sponsorship from Wendy’s.
Darian Grubb will be his 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,” Castroneves said in a team release. “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 qualify, the Daytona 500 would mark Castroneves’ first NASCAR start. He’s best known as a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner in the NTT IndyCar Series, along with a trio of 24 Hours of Daytona victories.
It’s a return to the Cup Series for Trackhouse’s No. 91, which won the inaugural Chicago street course race in 2023 with Shane van Gisbergen but did not compete in 2024.
“Helio is one of the greatest drivers of all time and exactly the type of driver we want to bring to NASCAR,” Marks said. “I think race fans around the world will be excited to see Helio 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.”
Trackhouse has not confirmed any other races for the No. 91 for 2025.
About the author
Rutherford is the managing editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2015 after serving on the editing staff for two years. At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.
A daily email update (Monday through Friday) providing racing news, commentary, features, and information from Frontstretch.com
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.
Why??? I guess he brings in the most money for the ride.
Yeah, that’s the only reason I can see. Already made headlines everywhere.
Would be hilarious to see him win it in his first race! And it’s possible since the restrictor plate “races” are little more than a lottery crapshoot.
Yep even mouse. I mean Austin Dillon.
Money talks, I guess. He should have to qualify like everyone else if he wants in. Giving him a provisional is unfair to all the other non-charter drivers seeking a starting spot at Daytona.