NASCAR made sweeping updates to the NASCAR Cup Series Rule Book on Friday afternoon. Included in the updates were a new provisional designed for ‘World-Class drivers’, essentially the elimination of the Damaged Vehicle Policy, tweaks to Playoff Waiver rules, penalties to OEMs found to be manipulating races, and more.
Let’s start with the new “Open Exemption Provisional” (OEP). The OEP will be a tool that Open Teams, who are fielding an entry with a world-class driver (NASCAR’s discretion), can lock their driver into the show regardless of how they qualify in races with more than 40 cars on the entry list.
In what amounts to essentially a promoter’s provisional, any driver or team that utilizes the OEP will not be permitted to score race points, playoff points, or prize money, and will not receive any tiebreaker benefits from their finishing position.
Teams must request the provisional at least 90 days prior to an event, and criteria for approval will be at NASCAR’s discretion on a case-by-case basis. NASCAR has confirmed that Trackhouse Racing has requested an OEP for Helio Castroneves for the upcoming Daytona 500, a request that NASCAR has approved. This means Castroneves will compete in the Daytona 500 no matter what this year.
While drivers and teams can not score points under the OEP, any race or Stage Wins would count as so in the history book, and a win with an OEP would allow a driver to gain eligibility for the NASCAR All-Star Race.
Onto the Damaged Vehicle Policy, which has been neutered in the NASCAR Cup Series.
For 2025, cars placed on the DVP may drive to the garage or be towed to the garage and will not be ruled out of the race. Teams will still have a seven-minute clock (eight minutes at Atlanta) for pit road repairs, but if the clock expires, the car will be sent to the garage area where the team can attempt to finish repairs to their vehicle.
As for Playoff Waivers, they were a hot topic in 2024 as Kyle Larson needed to utilize one after missing the Coca-Cola 600 due to competing in the rain-delayed Indianapolis 500. If any driver has a similar issue in 2025, they will need to make it for the start of the NASCAR event or they will be forced to forfeit all current and future Playoff Points, and will begin the Playoffs with a maximum of 2,000 points.
The exceptions to the rule are medical reasons (driver medical, birth of a child, family emergency etc.) and age restrictions.
NASCAR has also changed the wording to the 100% Performance Obligation Rule in the Rule Book to be focused on “manipulating” the outcome of a race or championship.
Additionally, any manufacturers (OEMs) found to be manipulating races in order to assist one of their cars will also see sanctions from NASCAR in 2025. According to the Rule Book update, rule violations by an OEM may result in a loss of Manufacturers Points, and/or loss of wind tunnel hours, and/or loss of RCFD runs. NASCAR will issue penalties for violations of the Vehicle Testing Policy, wind tunnel policy, event roster, and Code of Conduct Policy.
And finally, all suspensions due to a technical penalty (failed inspection etc.) can be deferred without appeal for the next race following the issuance of a penalty. All other suspensions will be effective immediately and will not be permitted to be deferred.
