NASCAR makes both major and minor rules changes each season, sometimes to keep things interesting, sometimes because the old rules just don’t work anymore. Well, 2025 is no different. Friday afternoon, NASCAR announced a slew of changes and we have them for you here.

Image Credit: Cody Wansley/ Seriously Fast Media

Playoff Waver

NASCAR’s Playoff Waver is still in play for medical reasons, but, if your favorite driver is in need of a non-medical waver, they will lose ALL of their Playoff Points for the entire season.

The best examples are Kyle Larson for missing the Coke 600 or Chase Elliott’s 2023 suspension. In the case of those drivers making they Playoffs in the first place, they would have lost all Playoff Points for the season and started the Playoffs with a goose egg.

Not included in this rule change is Birth of a child, family emergency, age restrictions or medical absence.

Damaged Vehicle Policy or DVP

The damaged Vehicle Policy is getting a complete overhaul for 2025. Gone is the DVP Clock. Cars will now be permitted to return to the track if they are either driven or towed to the garage. Teams still have seven minutes for repairs made on pit road, any repairs requiring longer than seven minutes must be made in the garage. Teams will be penalized if a car leaves pit box to rejoin the race and the DVP pit box clock expires before it reaches pit exit.

Also, any vehicle not able to be driven because of crash damage or flat tires will be towed to the garage.

Open Exemption Provisional

NASCAR creates a new “Open Exemption Provisional” which would increase the Cup Series Starting Grid to a maximum of 41 cars for select races.

The provisional spot would be “promoter’s choice”, essentially guaranteeing a starting spot to a “world-class” driver of an open/non-chartered entry. This rule will be used starting at the upcoming Daytona 500.

The OEP entry would be eligible for the race win, trophy and All-Star Race eligibility, but not for Championship points, prize money or playoff eligibility.

OEM Penalties

Any rules violations made by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) may result in the loss of Manufacturers’ points and/or reduction of wind-tunnel testing time or computational fluid dynamics test runs.

100% Rule

NASCAR officials have adjusted the wording for the “100% Rule” of performance obligations, changing the focus on competitors who “artificially alter the finishing positions” to another competitor or manipulate the outcome of the event.

• These rule changes are on top of December’s practice and qualifying procedures.