The 2025 Daytona 500 may come with a plus-one.
There’s a new NASCAR rule for “world-class drivers who enter a NASCAR Cup Series race” that allows a team to apply for a provisional starting spot to enter a car driven by an experienced driver from another racing discipline.
Trackhouse Racing has secured a provisional entry for the No. 91 car that will be driven by four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, who has never competed in a NASCAR race before.
Castroneves will attempt to earn a spot in the 40-car field through the normal qualifying procedure, but if he fails to do so Trackhouse Racing can activate the provisional entry, which would allow him to race as the 41st car.
Read Also: 65-YEAR-OLD MIKE WALLACE ENTERING 2025 DAYTONA 500
The Daytona 500 has been restricted to 40 cars since 2016 when NASCAR’s team charter system was first introduced. Prior to that, it had been open to 43 entries dating back to 1998.
The provisional system ensures the effort and expense a team goes through to attract a top name doesn’t go to waste if they fail to qualify in their first try, but it does come with some caveats. If Trackhouse Racing choses to use it at Daytona, the No. 91 car will forfeit the prize money and points and playoffs eligibility, but Castroneves himself would earn an invite to the All-Star Race with a win.
Read Also: NASCAR IS MAKING BIG CHANGES TO QUALIFYING FOR 2025
A Castroneves win would also promote all of the cars behind him up one spot, but the second place finisher would not get the automatic playoffs berth that usually comes with a win.
While 41 cars would be the most seen in the Daytona 500 in years it’s a far cry from the record field size, which is also much larger than 43.
The 1960 Daytona 500 featured a massive field of 68 starters who faced strong wins in a caution-filled race what would end up being the slowest and longest Daytona 500 ever with an average speed just 124.72 mph and a running time four hours and 30 seconds.
Read Also: NASCAR CLASSICS STREAMING SERVICE LAUNCHED WITH MORE THAN 1000 RACES
Junior Johnson would take the victory after passing a spinning Bobby Johns with nine laps to go. The pair followed by a 22-year-old Richard Petty in third.