Do you remember the controversy surrounding Ryan Blaney at Watkins Glen last season? Despite his insistence that his car was still in race-ready condition, NASCAR made the call to tow it back, sparking frustration and debate. That moment reignited concerns about the Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP), which had already been under scrutiny from both drivers and fans. 

The backlash was strong, and after much debate, NASCAR has finally implemented some long-awaited changes to the policy. For Blaney, this revision comes as a much-needed relief. His public feud with NASCAR over the issue was intense, and now, with the updates in place, he has every reason to feel vindicated.

Ryan Blaney thinks he has something to do with the DVP rule change

NASCAR recently brought about significant changes to the Damaged Vehicle Policy for the Cup Series. Scrutinizing through the rules, it does seem like drivers now have much more flexibility and leverage to decide what they want to do with a damaged vehicle. It was a NASCAR norm until now that any car that has been driven or towed to the garage citing “damage” was ruled out. However, in 2025, it will be the teams who will decide whether the cars will return to the track or not. How does it help the teams? It ensures that the team has a chance to fight for the position and the points if they think that the car is working at its optimum best. 

Last season, Ryan Blaney was among the drivers who were on the receiving side of the rule. He was involved in a Lap 1 wreck and despite his request that the car could hit back, NASCAR didn’t make an exception. Speaking of how much he resonates with the rule change, Blaney said, “Yes, I like that a lot. I am a big supporter of that. I don’t know why it got to where it was with the DVP because it just created controversy. A good example is the Glen last year in the playoffs. I got tore up, but I didn’t even get tore up on lap one. I just broke a little, like the steering column”. 

Speaking of the same, Blaney further added, “The biggest issue is, how is someone in the tower, not a part of the race, telling us that we’re done? Like, let us at least look at it and fix it”. The rule changed to mention that the initial seven-minute repair rule remains untouched where teams must finish any kind of repair within that time frame. In case the car needs more repair, it can be taken to the garage and this would be without a timer. 

To add to that, if a car is too damaged or has flat tires preventing it from reaching the pit road, it won’t be out of the race just yet. Instead, it will be towed straight to the garage, where the crew can roll up their sleeves, get to work, and try to bring it back to life. The change in DVP has been welcomed with open arms. However, there will be a stringent penalty for time expiry as teams have to ensure that they do not exceed the DVP clock. In case the car fails to make it within the ticking of the clock, it will be ruled out of the race. However, it is not only the DVP that has been updated by NASCAR.

NASCAR brings in Open Exemption Provisional 

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 In the same array, NASCAR has announced the introduction of the Open Exemption Provisional. What does it mean? It ensures that drivers from other genres of motorsports can also drive in the Cup Series. But this does not mean that the one starting from this position will be able to get the same benefits as the regular drivers.

Drivers who opt-in for the Open Exemption Provisional run will not be able to claim points, playoff standings, or even the prize money. Presumably, the one who will be inaugurating this new policy is Helio Castroneves. 

This move by NASCAR opens the door for cross-discipline competition, adding intrigue to the Cup Series without disrupting the championship structure. Whether it will be able to bring in more curiosity and patronage for NASCAR is a test of time.