PIT BOX: Big names, rising stars have sights set on Daytona for ARCA Menards Series opener

The 73rd season of racing for the ARCA Menards Series gets underway this Saturday afternoon with the running of the Ride the ‘Dente 200 at Daytona International Speedway (12 p.m. ET on FOX).

Saturday’s race marks the 62nd time the ARCA Menards Series has competed on the 2.5-mile oval at The World Center of Racing, which has hosted the opening race of the season each year since 1987.

An incredible list of drivers have found their way to Victory Lane in ARCA competition at Daytona. They include early ARCA pioneers such as Earl Balmer, Ramo Stott, Jack Bowsher, Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy. Future NASCAR stars like Benny Parsons, Kyle Petty, Tim Richmond, Ryan Newman and Kyle Busch have also won the ARCA event at Daytona. Bobby Gerhart is the winningest driver in Daytona ARCA history with eight wins. Gus Dean, who is not entered this year, is the defending winner.

This year, 47 teams are entered for Saturday’s opening salvo of the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season. Only 40 will start the race, meaning seven teams will leave Daytona Beach, Florida without qualifying for the Ride the ‘Dente 200.

Tickets for the Ride the ‘Dente 200 can be purchased here. Below is everything you need to know for Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Ride the ‘Dente 200 at Daytona International Speedway

When it comes to star power, it doesn’t get much bigger than a four-time winner of the legendary Indianapolis 500.

We’re of course talking about Hélio Castroneves, who will make his Daytona International Speedway debut this week by competing in both the ARCA Menards Series opener for Pinnacle Racing Group as well as the Daytona 500 for Trackhouse Racing.

Castroneves is widely considered one of the best open-wheel racers of his generation. Between CART and the IndyCar Series, he has earned 31 victories during his legendary career. Castroneves is also one of only four drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times alongside A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears.

He’ll face a new challenge this week when he takes on Daytona International Speedway for the first time.

The legendary Brazilian competitor is joined at Daytona by a multitude of rising stars from across the United States. Chief among them are Brenden Queen, competing as a teammate to Castroneves for Pinnacle Racing Group. Queen, the defending CARS Late Model Stock Tour champion, will chase the ARCA Menards Series championship this year.

Isabella Robusto headlines the Venturini Motorsports stable at Daytona. Robusto, who is also chasing the ARCA crown in 2025, will be joined in the Venturini stable at Daytona by Lawless Alan, Jake Finch and Chase Pinsonneault. British sports car and open-wheel driver Katherine Legge will make her ARCA debut driving for Sigma Performance Services, while defending General Tire Pole Award winner Willie Mullins returns for another Daytona attempt in his own No. 3 Ford.

William Sawalich, the two-time and defending ARCA Menards Series East champion, makes his Daytona debut aboard the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. YouTube star Garrett “Cleetus McFarland” Mitchell is also in the field as a teammate to Kyle Steckly at Rette Jones Racing. Nick Tucker’s Nitro Motorsports team will make its ARCA debut at Daytona with full season entrant Thad Moffitt and Amber Balcaen in the team’s two Toyota entries. Lavar Scott will also be in the field for his third Daytona start with Rev Racing.

Other notable entrants include recent Hendrick Motorsports signee Corey Day, driving a car prepared by Spire Motorsports, as well as Andy Jankowiak, Kole Raz, Jason Kitzmiller, Scott Melton, Dale Quarterley and Brayton Laster, among others.

The complete entry list for the Ride the ‘Dente 200 can be found here.

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous ARCA Menards Series races at Daytona
• ARCA Menards Series drivers at Daytona

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Ride the ‘Dente 200 is limited to 32 starters plus provisionals. Four (4) provisional positions will be reserved for car owners based on 2024 ARCA Menards Series final point standings, plus four (4) for a Golden A eligible team which competed in 100 percent of the series races in 2024. If Golden A unused, revert to final 2024 owner point standings. This event will run under the 2025 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Timed sessions by group. Groups will be determined by random draw. No adjustments or repairs may be made on car after entering pit road to qualify. All cars must make a qualifying attempt, and all drivers must practice before they can qualify.

RACE PIT STOP: Modified live pit stop procedure. There will be a scheduled caution at or near Lap 40. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box once race has started.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum number of tires allowed for event is 16.