NASCAR has had enough of drivers using the waiver as a tool to reinstate their position in the series without any serious repercussions. The original idea for granting a waiver was to allow the driver to compete in the playoffs for medical and family emergencies. However, with time, drivers started to misuse the waiver after causing wrecks (Chase Elliott against Denny Hamlin in Charlotte). Meanwhile, Kyle Larson asked for one after missing out on the start of the Coca-Cola 600.

While the situation Larson got himself tangled in was unfortunate, it certainly didn’t paint a good picture for NASCAR. The superstar driver committed himself to the rain-hit Indy 500 race and opted to snub the start of the Coca-Cola 600 in his attempt at ‘The Double’. This is one of the biggest races in the NASCAR calendar that they host in their backyard (North Carolina), and yet they couldn’t have their star driver compete in that event. This is why NASCAR is trying to get its house in order with changes to the waiver rule.

Kyle Larson cannot afford to miss another NASCAR race with his Double attempt

Things were pretty tense when the HMS driver was forced to choose between the Indy 500 race and the Coca-Cola 600. Competing in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing had been his lifelong dream, which is why he opted to stay at Brickyard. However, the aftermath of this decision was anything but smooth, with NASCAR dragging the waiver request.

Going by the book, NASCAR wouldn’t have been in the wrong in not providing Larson a waiver. But brandishing such a harsh punishment for something that wasn’t under his control would be harsh. Not to forget the backlash they would face from the Hendrick Motorsports supporters. This is why they’ve now made changes to the waiver rule, which is reasonable and is likely to serve its purpose well.

“Playoff waiver policy has changed, and this could be a biggie. If a driver needs a waiver for a non-medical reason (aka Larson getting that Coke 600) waiver, they lose *all of their playoff points for the entire season.* All of their playoff points they already had AND any they might have. So Larson would have started the playoffs with zero.” Jeff Gluck shared this update on X.

Unlike the previous rule, if a driver wants to receive a playoff waiver, they will have to forfeit all the playoff points they have scored. This includes playoff points earned during the entirety of the regular season. The drivers will have to start the knockout stages with a maximum of 2,000 points. Now there are exceptions to this rule, which prioritizes medical conditions and emergencies (driver medical, birth of a child, family emergency, etc.)

Another big change is that if the driver is suspended, it will fall under the non-medial category, and the driver will lose all playoff points. So drivers will have to keep their hands clean, especially the likes of Austin Dillon, as intentionally wrecking someone isn’t going to slide any more.

Dillon notably wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in 2024 at Richmond Raceway on the last lap for the win. Dillon’s ‘win and in’ playoff berth was revoked as a result. This precedent was already set with NASCAR’s ruling in 2024 but is now a confirmed change in their rule book.

NASCAR did list out a ton of other important changes, but the addition of a new rule to field an international driver for the Daytona 500 was a surprising one.

Helio Castroneves gets a guaranteed spot for the Daytona 500

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Along with a major rule change roll-out, NASCAR has brought the “Open Exemption Provisional” rule. This rule will allow the starting grid of a Cup Series race to be 41; earlier, this was restricted to just 40. It would only be a factor in events where the entry limit exceeds; the likes of the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 would likely see the use of this new provision.

The provision is for “world-class drivers who enter a NASCAR Cup Series race,” and Helio Castroneves certainly fits the category. The Brazil native is a 4-time Indy500 winner and three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. His experience, along with his legendary status, has prompted Trackhouse Racing to utilize this provision.

However, an approval by NASCAR would be needed for a team to claim the OEP, and Trackhouse Racing is the first beneficiary of this new rule. With the entry list for the Daytona 500 expected to cross the 40-entry mark, Trackhouse Racing has opted to apply for the OEP for their No. 91 entry with Castroneves. And going by NASCAR’s post on social media, the four-time Indy 500 winner has been granted an entry for the Great American race.

This new rule also states that if the provision is used, the driver/team will not be eligible for points, playoff points, or prize money. They will be credited with a win, but that entry won’t be eligible for playoffs. So it’s essentially a spot NASCAR has opened for drivers from a different discipline to race in the premier stock car racing series. And that indeed is a welcoming change.