NASCAR
NASCAR Introduces Several New Rules Ahead of 2025 Season
Friday, January 10 saw NASCAR announce multiple new rules affecting many facets of the 2025 racing season. Between DVP, Playoff eligibility, provisional starting spots, and suspensions, the coming year will have a few new looks ahead. Here is a point-by-point list of the new regulations for NASCAR.
Open Exemption Provisional (OEP)
Newly introduced for 2025 is a potential for 41-car fields in the Cup Series. In a similar vein to ‘promoter’s provisionals’ used at short tracks across America, a visiting world-class racing talent can use a ‘Open Exemption Provisional (OEP).’ This distinction would allow a guaranteed entry into a Cup race, bypassing having to qualify in on speed. However, the team would be barred from earning any prize money or driver/owner points.
Should an OEP entry win a stage/race, they would be credited with the victory and All-Star Race eligibility. They would not though earn any Playoff eligibility. The second-place finisher would likewise earn first-place points but not receive any playoff berth. Prize money, race and stage points would be shifted up by one spot around the OEP car, excluding Playoff points.
OEP-eligible drivers must not be full-time NASCAR competitors, and will be determined at NASCAR’s discretion on a case-by-case basis. Any Cup race will have a maximum of one OEP driver, beginning with Helio Castroneves in the Daytona 500.
Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP)
A source of great controversy over many races in 2024, the Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP) has been radically redesigned in Cup. No longer will a countdown clock end a team’s race day, but rather simply determine their time on pit road. Upon clock expiration, the repairs will shift to the garage where they can continue without any time limit. A team can return to the track from the garage area and resume participation in the event. The pit road clock will be set at seven minutes, except for Atlanta where it will last eight minutes.
If a car leaves the pit box and the clock hits zero before it crosses the pit-out line, a penalty will be assessed.
Vehicles that are stranded on-track and unable to drive back to pit road will now also be towed back to the garage. This determination can be made after either extensive damage or multiple flat tires.
Playoff Waivers
Should a Playoff waiver be granted for missing a race, a driver will subsequently forfeit all of their current and future Playoff bonus points earned in the regular season. These guidelines also apply to any suspended driver. A waiver-holding driver will begin the postseason with a maximum of 2,000 points, equating to no bonuses. Exemptions to this rule include: medical reasons, a childbirth, family emergencies, and age restrictions.
Performance Obligation
The much-maligned ‘100% rule’ for racing to the fullest of one’s abilities has been slightly tweaked. It now emphasizes against any competitor “manipulating the outcome of an event/championship.”
OEM Penalties
Stemming from Denny Hamlin’s TRD engine penalty prior to last year’s Playoffs, the rule book now reflects detriments for manufacturers. Any rules broken by an OEM can lead to a loss of Manufacturer Points, loss of wind tunnel time, or losing RCFD runs.* Penalties under this jurisdiction can come from violating the vehicle testing ban, wind tunnel rules, event rosters, or Code of Conduct.
*Restricted Computational Fluid Dynamics, i.e. aerodynamic testing of 3D model cars.
Suspension Deferral
Any non-behavioral suspension handed out by NASCAR now has the ability to be deferred a week without appeal. The time off can simply shift to a race after the issuing of the penalty for any technical infraction. All other suspensions, including behavioral, remain effective immediately.
The new rules bulletin is an annual sign that racing is soon to return, getting ever-closer on the horizon. It will be a matter of days before engines roar to life again at Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cook Out Clash.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Sean Gardner/Getty Images
