NASCAR makes a host of major rule changes ahead of the 2025 season

Perhaps the most influential rule change of the bunch is the change to the Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP). The controversial rule previously knocked damaged vehicles out of the race if they could not be repaired during an allotted amount of time. Now, the damaged vehicle in question will have the opportunity to be repaired in the garage area after the seven-minute clock expires. The vehicle can rejoin the race if repaired by the team. 

NASCAR also made a change to another rule that divided fans. the sanctioning body has the authority to give out playoff waivers for drivers who miss races and do not meet the criteria of attempting every race on the schedule. On Friday, it was announced that waivers can be handed out for non-medical reasons — such as running a race in another series or a suspension — but the driver who needs the waiver will lose all playoff points they have earned and any that are earned in the future. The driver will start the postseason with an even 2,000 points, paving a much tougher road to a title. 

The final major change is one that could have an impact on the Daytona 500. NASCAR can now hand out an open-exemption provisional to a driver attempting a race who is a "significant contributor" in another major motorsports series. The rule could mean a 41-car field is a possibility in races such as February's Daytona 500, where four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves is set to compete. If Castroneves does not make the Daytona 500 field via qualifying speed or racing his way in through his Duel race, the field for the Daytona 500 would expand to 41 cars.