Press Release | TRACKHOUSE RACING
When you’ve won the Indianapolis 500 four times, the 24 Hours of Daytona three times and over 30 major open wheel races, you’ve realized most of your racing dreams.
But for Hélio Castroneves there’s one more entry he’s about to add to his hall of fame resume – NASCAR’s Daytona 500. He and Trackhouse Racing announced today the Sao Paulo, Brazil native will drive Trackhouse Racing’s PROJECT91 entry in the 2025 Daytona 500 on Feb. 16.
The No. 91 Chevrolet will carry the Wendy’s® livery during the 2025 Speedweeks as he seeks to join Mario Andretti and AJ Foyt as the only drivers to win the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500.
“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!”
Marks created PROJECT91 in 2022 intent on expanding the organization’s global reach by fielding a Cup Series entry for renowned international racing drivers. Castroneves will join Trackhouse fulltime Cup drivers Daniel Suárez, Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen.
The season-opening Daytona 500 will mark Castroneves’ first NASCAR Cup Series start and the fifth race for PROJECT91 after appearances by 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in 2022 as well as Van Gisbergen’s races at the Chicago Street Race and the Indianapolis Road Course in 2023.
Van Gisbergen became the first driver since 1963 to win in his Cup debut when he won at the Chicago Street Course. The victory launched his move to America and a full season in the Xfinity Series in 2024 and his move to fulltime Cup racing in 2025.
Castroneves said 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,” said Castroneves. “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.”
Darian Grubb, a 24-time winning crew chief who won a Cup Series title with Tony Stewart in 2011, will lead the No. 91 team in Daytona.
Marks said adding Castroneves to the PROJECT91 program is a “no-brainer.”
“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.”
Marks created Trackhouse Entertainment Group in 2020 after a driving career in sports cars and NASCAR. With the goal of creating a racing brand that transcends the sport, Marks formed Trackhouse Racing that took to the track in 2021 with Suárez behind the wheel. In January 2021, the team announced a partnership with international superstar entertainer Pitbull who has been a frequent guest at NASCAR races and elevated Trackhouse’s presence through inclusion in several of his songs, music videos over the last two years and named his latest album “Trackhouse.”
Midway through the 2021 season, Trackhouse Racing purchased the NASCAR assets of Chip Ganassi Racing and began the 2022 season as its own two-car team with Suárez and Chastain as drivers and will expand to three fulltime Cup teams in 2025 adding Van Gisbergen.
Castroneves is one of four drivers to have won the Indianapolis 500 four times (2001, 2002, 2009, and 2021) and was runner-up in the IndyCar Series drivers’ championship four times (2002, 2008, 2013, and 2014). He is a three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, consecutively in 2021 with Wayne Taylor Racing and 2022 and 2023 with Meyer Shank, in addition to the overall 2020 IMSA championship with Team Penske.
Castroneves does have experience driving cars with a roof including 16 IROC races (2002-2005) and starts in the Supercars and Brazil stock car series.
Castroneves is well known for his work away from the track.
He and Julianne Hough won the 2007 “Dancing with the Stars” competition on ABC Television and returned in 2012 to compete again with partner Chelsie Hightower. Castroneves has been a guest on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” a correspondent on “Entertainment Tonight” and a judge at the 2011 Miss Universe competition.
One of the most popular drivers in IndyCar, his celebration of climbing the fencing beside the track after a victory, earned him the nickname “Spider-Man”. NASCAR drivers have gone on to climb the fence after victories in imitation of Castroneves.
He’d love nothing more than to climb the fence at Daytona in February.
(Photo Courtesy NASCAR)
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