Fearing Grave Consequences, Chase Elliott Defends NASCAR’s Controversial Rule That Threatens Kyle Larson’s Dreams

Kyle Larson’s attempt to pull off the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 doubleheader last year was the kind of motorsport madness we all love—a high-stakes, high-reward gamble that could’ve cemented his legacy as one of the bravest and most adaptable drivers in modern history. But as fate would have it, a rain delay in Indy meant Larson missed the start of the Coke 600, leaving him at the mercy of NASCAR’s waiver system. Fast forward to 2025, and the rules have been rewritten. Enter the “Kyle Larson Rule,” a controversial new policy that’s got the garage split. Some see it as a necessary deterrent; others call it an overreach. Chase Elliott, though? He’s firmly in the “necessary” camp. But why? And what does this mean for someone like Denny Hamlin, who’s already scheming how to turn the new rules to his advantage?

Chase Elliott on the ‘Kyle Larson Rule’: A deterrent or a necessity?

When Chase Elliott sat down with Bob Pockrass to chat about NASCAR’s latest policy changes, it didn’t take long for the conversation to turn to Kyle Larson’s 2024 doubleheader drama. “Like last year’s situation with Kyle [Larson], I think that would have made that decision really straightforward just because they would’ve never chanced that,” Elliott said, referring to the new rule. Pockrass, ever the sharp observer, pointed out that many in the garage have started calling it the ‘Kyle Larson Rule.’ Elliott didn’t argue.

So, what’s the deal with this rule? In a nutshell, if a driver misses a race for any reason other than a medical emergency, the birth of a child, or a family emergency, they forfeit all their playoff points—current and future. That’s a seismic shift from the old system, where waivers were handed out like candy on Halloween. For Larson, who missed the start of the Coke 600 thanks to that Indy rain delay, the new rule would’ve been a season-ending gut punch.

Elliott, though, sees it as a necessary evil—not just for doubleheader attempts but for on-track retaliation. “I think it is more a deterrent,” he said. “It’s an added deterrent for taking on-track action, for whatever it may be, that might get you in trouble.” And he knows a thing or two about that. Back in 2023, Elliott was suspended for one race after intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin at Charlotte Motor Speedway. At the time, the penalty was a slap on the wrist—Elliott missed a single race and kept his playoff eligibility. But under the new rules? A similar move could cost a driver their entire season.

“You wanna think through things before something happens,” Elliott added. “But for someone to think that’ll solve everything in every situation probably isn’t true. Still, it’s a good way to make you think twice because that could ruin your year if you were having a good year prior to that.”

Away from the track, NASCAR’s new waiver policy has sparked a heated debate. On one hand, it’s a clear attempt to discourage on-track retaliation and ensure drivers prioritize their commitments to the series. On the other, it’s seen by some as an overreach that could punish drivers for circumstances beyond their control.

Chase Elliott thinks the rule is a step in the right direction, but warns that it shouldn’t be viewed as a blanket solution to every situation. “I would like to think that myself and everyone else would be smart enough to recognize that going into it,” he said. “Hopefully so.”

As for Denny Hamlin, he’s got bigger things on his mind—like welcoming a new baby and figuring out how to outduel Elliott on the track.

Denny Hamlin’s take: Waivers, babies, and Bowman Gray

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While Elliott’s busy pondering the broader implications of the rule, Denny Hamlin’s already plotting how to use it to his advantage. On a recent episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin dropped a bombshell: he and his fiancée, Jordan Fish, are expecting their third child. And the due date? Right around Charlotte race weekend.

“Well, yeah, I got another one coming,” Hamlin said with a laugh. “Due June 1st-ish, so right around Charlotte weekend. Hopefully, we can get that thing popped out somewhere around then—that’d be great.” When co-host Jared Allen jokingly asked if Hamlin would actually be present for the birth if it clashed with the race, Hamlin didn’t miss a beat. “Yeah, of course,” he said. “There’s a new rule, though, right? You can miss a race for a birth and not lose your playoff points or have to get a waiver, correct?”

Hamlin’s right—NASCAR’s updated waiver policy allows drivers to miss a race for family reasons without penalty. But as Hamlin cheekily pointed out, modern medicine can be pretty precise. “It seems like nowadays they can time whenever it happens,” he joked.

Hamlin’s baby news isn’t the only thing keeping him busy. The 2025 season kicked off with a bang at Bowman Gray Stadium, where he found himself locked in a fierce battle with none other than Chase Elliott. Elliott dominated most of the race, leading 172 of 200 laps, but Hamlin wasn’t about to back down. The two traded paint, with Hamlin briefly taking the lead before Elliott reclaimed it on a crucial restart. In the end, Elliott took the checkered flag, while Hamlin settled for third.

“It’s just as it goes on. It seems like I lose a little bit of the juice that I had,” Hamlin admitted after the race. “Certainly, in the first half, I felt like I could maneuver anywhere I wanted to go. I just got to get a little better and figure out what makes this thing go for the entire race, not just the beginning.”

Elliott, meanwhile, credited his team for making the right adjustments. “Honestly, felt like there at the end of the first hundred that Denny and Tyler [Reddick] had gotten better than us,” he said. “I felt like I needed to take my shot and try to get the lead. If it worked out, great. If Denny got me back, then so be it.”