NASCAR.COM
Hélio Castroneves and Trackhouse Racing intend to utilize NASCAR’s new Open Exemption Provisional to secure a starting spot in the 2025 Daytona 500, NASCAR confirmed Friday.
Announced Friday among numerous competition updates ahead of the 2025 season, the Open Exemption Provisional provides a guaranteed starting position “for world-class drivers who enter a NASCAR Cup Series race.” The provisional is similar to a “promoter’s choice provisional” utilized in short-track racing and dirt racing to ensure a high-caliber driver’s entry into a feature race.
Castroneves meets those qualifications as a four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and three-time champion of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Trackhouse Racing announced Castroneves’ entry to the Daytona 500 on Jan. 6 in the team’s No. 91 Chevrolet as part of its Project 91 initiative.
If Castroneves and Trackhouse opt to utilize the provisional, the starting field of the “Great American “Race” will expand to 41 cars from its previous 40-vehicle limit.
(Photo Credit: x.com/turnfour_fr)
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