NASCAR is making rulebook changes ahead of the 2025 season

NASCAR issued rulebook changes on Friday to address several situations, including playoff exemptions, the Damaged Vehicle Policy and penalties to manufacturers.

Here’s what changed:

Playoffs

NASCAR states that if granted a playoff waiver for missing a race, the driver will forfeit all current and future playoff points and begin the playoffs with a maximum of 2,000 points.

Exceptions to the forfeiture of playoff points would be if a driver misses a race for a medical emergency (NASCAR notes that include medical problem for the driver, birth of a child, family emergency) and age restrictions.

Last year, Kyle Larson missed the Coca-Cola 600 because he stayed in Indianapolis to compete in the rain-delayed Indy 500.

After much debate, NASCAR granted Larson an exemption from the playoffs for missing the race. Waivers previously came with no penalties such as the loss of playoff points.

Larson will try to compete in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 this year. Car owner Rick Hendrick already said that Larson would be pulled from the Indianapolis 500 to start the Coca-Cola 600. This rule explains the penalty Larson faces if he fails to start the 600. A driver must start every race to be eligible unless they have a waiver.

Damaged Vehicle Policy

After much controversy with the Damaged Vehicle Policy late last seasonNASCAR changed this policy only for the Cup Series.

Vehicles on the DVP may drive to the garage or be towed to the garage and will NOT be out of the race.

Previously, if a car was towed or driven to the garage on the DVP, it was out of the race.

NASCAR also said:

– The 7-minute clock (8 at Atlanta) remains active for vehicles making repairs on pit road.
When the clock expires, the vehicle must go to the garage to continue working.

— There is no clock for repairs made in the garage.

— If a car leaves its pit box and the clock expires before the car hits the yellow line of the pit, a penalty will be issued.

NASCAR also said that vehicles unable to drive to pit road, either due to damage or flat tires, will be towed to the garage.

Fines to manufacturers

NASCAR stated last year that it would update the rulebook before this season to issue penalties to manufacturers after the finish of the Martinsville finish was affected by cars from the same manufacturer working together. NASCAR said at the time that it did not have a way to penalize manufacturers.

It has been changed.

NASCAR states in the rulebook that violations by manufacturers may result in the loss of manufacturer points, and/or loss of wind tunnel hours and/or loss of RCFD runs.

NASCAR will determine such penalties for violation of the Vehicle Testing Policy, Wind Tunnel Policy, Event Schedule and Code of Conduct Policy.

A new preliminary

NASCAR added a way for a provisional car for an open car.

This guarantees a starting position for what are NASCAR states world class drivers entering a NASCAR Cup Series race.

If this provisional is used…

— The driver/car owner will NOT be eligible for race points.

— The driver/car owner will NOT be eligible for playoff points.

— The driver/car owner will NOT be eligible for prize money.

— The driver/car owner will NOT be eligible for any tie benefit from their finishing position.

Cars in the finishing order below a vehicle taking this preliminary will have their final position adjusted up one place and their prize money, race points and stage points adjusted as well.

If the provisional car wins a race and/or stage, that car will be credited with the race win (including trophy and All-Star qualification), but the finish will NOT count towards the playoff. The second place finisher will inherit first place points, but will NOT receive playoff points or playoff qualification

Performance obligation

Words around the 100% rule are replaced with a focus on “manipulating” the outcome of an event / championship.

Practice and qualify

New practice and qualifying procedures, which was announced in Decemberwas formally added to the rule book. Group practice runs from 20 to 25 minutes, single-lap qualifying at all tracks but superspeedways, which will have a 10-car final lap, and starting position is determined solely by qualifying results instead of race-by-race designation based on which qualifying group in which the car was.

Postpone suspension

NASCAR states that all suspensions resulting from a technical penalty may be postponed without appeal for the next race following the issuance of a penalty. All other suspensions are effective immediately.