Four-time Indy 500 Champ Will Race a Stock Car Prior to Daytona 500 Debut

What’s Happening?

Four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Hélio Castroneves will have to race a stock car prior to his 2025 Daytona 500 start. This “one-off” start is common practice for any driver making their National Series debut at a superspeedway.

• According to multiple reports, Hélio Castroneves will participate in a Daytona International Speedway rookie tradition. On Feb. 15, Castroneves will enter the 200-mile ARCA Menards season opener at Daytona with Pinnacle Racing Group.
• Pinnacle Racing Group won six races with its multiple-driver roster last season. Castroneves will enter the season opener in the No. 82 alongside teammate and full-time PRG driver Brendan “Butterbean” Queen in the No. 28.
• Following the announcement of Castroneves’ entry into the Daytona 500, many fans wondered if the driver would have to make this start like so many other Daytona rookies have had to do. In order to familiarize himself better with superspeedway racing, Castroneves will also test at Talladega prior to the 500 in February.
• Last season, former Supercars champion and current Trackhouse Racing driver Shane van Gisbergen entered the ARCA race at Daytona prior to his Xfinity and Cup Series debut at the track. In PRG’s No. 28, SVG finished 29th, multiple laps down.
• Castroneves and Trackhouse Racing announced Monday that Castroneves will enter the Daytona 500 in the team’s PROJECT91 entry. Aside from ARCA, the 500 will be Castroneves’ first start in NASCAR. However, it will not be his first stock car race on the Daytona oval as he entered the track’s IROC race from 2002 to 2005.
• The ARCA season opener is packed with exciting rookies and other non-NASCAR veterans. FOX already announced the race will broadcast live on its national network on Feb. 15.

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