Hendrick Motorsport driver Chase Elliott has been the most popular driver in NASCAR. For the last seven years, he has been winning the title. However, the last two years have been struggling for the 2020 Cup Series Champion. Despite having the best average finish among all drivers, Elliott had his struggles. His inconsistency in qualifying often evaded him from stage points. Apart from his struggles, luck also hasn’t been on his side.

At Talladega, a 28-car wreck caught Chase Elliott in its chaos. The incident ignited widespread controversy, drawing scrutiny and criticism toward the Damaged Vehicle Policy. NASCAR towed Elliott out of the race, prompting him to criticize the rule and its implementation. However, with the 2025 season approaching, NASCAR has announced a significant rule change, earning praise from both fans and teams.

The NASCAR team’s back changes in DVP

Ahead of the 2025 season, NASCAR made some important changes in their rule book. Among these changes, adjustments to the Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP) have taken center stage. This policy was introduced in 2017 to streamline race management. However, it faced harsh criticism during the chaotic 2024 season. Now, NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi has revealed that some teams have liked the decision.

In the latest episode of The Teardown podcast, Jeff Gluck, and Jordan Bianchi discussed the impact of this change. “This feels much more straightforward… I’ve kind of exchanged a lot of messages with crew chiefs the last few days…um, teams kinda like that they didn’t have to bring crash cards as much.” Bianchi told Gluck.

Notably, the DVP rule allowed teams to repair a damaged vehicle on a pit road with 7 minutes to stay in the race. Going outside the time limit cut short their race as DNF. However, under the updated DVP, teams can now repair their cars in the garage without the threat of disqualification. Notably, a seven-minute timer remains in place for pit-road repairs.

It’s worth noting that the restriction of repairs in the garage was the reason behind Chase Elliott’s DNF at Talladega. He had a puncture which led to being towed to the garage and eventual disqualification, After the race Elliott criticized the rule as he said, “It’s unfortunate that if you have flat tires, that causes you to not be able to go anywhere without help… You’re just at the mercy of the track workers at that point.”

Notably, Elliott is not the only one who has voiced against the rule. During the playoff race at Watkins Glen, 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney faced a similar situation. On the very first lap of the race, Blaney caught up in an incident involving Kyle Busch and Corey LaJoie. He gained a lot of damage, which led NASCAR authorities to implement DVP. However, Blaney voiced against it by saying, “Give us a chance to fix it. How are they going to dictate if we’re done or not?”

Meanwhile, Jordan Bianchi also called NASCAR’s decision to be straightforward and optimistic. He believes that it will allow teams to make a comeback into the race and will need to navigate through the field to overtake and match the lap times of other drivers. However, this is not the only rule introduced by NASCAR.

Other game-changing rule updates

While the DVP revisions have grabbed headlines, NASCAR’s 2025 rulebook includes other notable changes. Among them is the introduction of an Open Exemption Provisional, which allows a world-class driver from another series to participate in a Cup Series race. This 41st starting position comes with restrictions, such as no eligibility for points, playoff standings, or prize money. Notably, four-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves will be the first beneficiary of the rule.

Additionally, the governing body heightened penalties for manufacturer violations. It includes the deduction of points, wind tunnel hours, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) runs. This move aims to curb manipulation and ensure fair competition. NASCAR has also revised its playoff waiver eligibility rules.

NASCAR has amended its waiver policy where the new rule will strip drivers of current and future playoff points if granted a waiver. However, there are exceptions for medical and personal emergencies. However, this rule might come with a lot of grey areas, and its impact will be visible only after the implementation. Let us know your thoughts on the latest rule changes.