NASCAR'S New Rules (2025)

This past Friday (1/10/25), NASCAR announced some new rule book updates for the 2025 season. Among these new rules, we have the following: 

• Open Exemption Provisional (OEP): This rule is similar to the ‘promoters provisional’ used in short track and dirt track racing. The OEP guarantees a starting position for world-class drivers who enter a NASCAR Cup Series Race. 

• Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP): Vehicles placed on DVP may drive or be towed to the garage and will NOT be out of the race. The 7-minute (8 minute at Atlanta) clock remains active for cars making repairs on pit-road. When the clock expires, the vehicle must go to the garage to finish making repairs, however there is no clock for this. If a car leaves their pit box and the clock expires prior to hitting the pit-out yellow line, a penalty will be issued. Vehicles unable to drive to pit road, whether because of damage or flats, will be towed to the garage. 

• Playoff Waivers: If a playoff waiver is granted for missing a race (ex: Kyle Larson missing the Coke 600 in 2024), the driver will forfeit all current and future Playoff Points (that were earned prior to the Playoffs), and the driver will start the Playoffs with a maximum of 2,000 points. However, there are exceptions to the forfeit of Playoff Points. 

• Performance Obligation: Verbiage around the 100% rule is replaced with a focus on “manipulating” the outcome of an event/championship. 

• OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Penalties: 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.Penalties will be assessed for violation of the Vehicle Testing Policy, wind tunnel policy, event roster and Code of Conduct policy. 

• Suspension Deferral: All suspensions that are a result of a technical penalty can be deferred without appeal for the next race following the issuance of a penalty. However, all other suspensions are effective immediately.