As Hulio’ finally gets His Wish…
Yeah, this is old news now. But since we’re
still in the midst of “Speed Weeks” at Day-Toner’. Not to mention the Cornhole
Cookout “Classic” Clash is right round the corner, as soon as we make another
left turn Yeehaw! As where’s the Hot Dogs ‘n Marshmallows, Y’all?
Four-times Indianapolis 500 winner Helio
Castroneves has made no secret of His desires to race in the Daytona 500 the
past two-plus years. With a bona fide NASCAR cup race team, you’d have to say
that Hulio’s got a decent shot at making the race this February.
As Castroneves will be the chauffeur of
Trackhouse Racing’s No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry; as we’ll skip the
discussion over the Camaro being out of production…
As Trackhouse’s part-time Project 91 third Cup
entry was created to bring international Stars to the NASCAR Cup arena.
Although Castroneves will need to qualify
either on speed or race His way into the Day-toner’ 500 in one of the two
Qualifiers, since this entry isn’t one of the guaranteed 36 Franchise, Err, Uhm
Charter entries…
Trachouse Racing debuted its No. 91 entry at
the 2022 Watkins Glen round with none other than thee Iceman’, nee Kimi
Raikkonen. With Raikkonen continuing His Cup career the following year at the
Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas.
The team then entered Supercars standout The
Giz’, aka Shane van Gisbergen for that year’s inaugural Chicago Street race.
Where Gisbergen qualified third and won upon His NASCAR debut. A feat that
hadn’t been done in some 60 odd years!
Gisbergen then contested the Indianapolis Road
Course race that Autumn, before becoming a fulltime Cup driver for Trackhouse
last year.
Heard the news late Friday afternoon, via my Newsline for The Blind telephone
service’s ESPN Online Motorsports Headlines section.
That
NASCAR had issued a myriad ‘O rule changes that afternoon, for which I’m not
gonna try explaining all of these.
https://racer.com/2025/01/10/nascar-issues-wide-ranging-rule-updates-ahead-of-2025-season/
Other than the most important is the addition
of a 41st “Wild Card” exemption entry for World Class drivers, ditto
Castroneves…
Thus Castroneves now gains immediate entry into
this year’s Daytona 500 via this rules change. For which I have to say I’ve got
mixed emotions over…
Although I never thought I’d type this, Gulp!
I’m happy for Castroneves making the Daytona 500. But have to say I’m not
impressed that He doesn’t have to earn it! Since this just leaves riggle room
for All of the Naysayers’. Not to mention taking one giant Talking Point out of
the equation.
Look I get it, since I know that MotoGP for
instance has Wild Card entries, which you could say NASCAR’s new international
41st entry is, and good for NASCAR adding another entry into its biggest race
of the year, But…
Hmm, does this mean that IndyCar will add a
provisional Wild Card, Err, Uhm international entry to the Indy 500, giving us
34 starters?
As what’s the point of Bump Day, or having to actually qualify for the Daytona 500? Oh Never Mind!
