Insider rips NASCAR over game-changing new rule for 2025

Today NASCAR released a set of new rules and ended any sort of drama associated with Helio Castroneves and the Daytona 500. Castroneves and Trackhouse Racing have taken the brand new Open Exemption Provisional for the race. They have an automatic starting spot.

The drama of qualifying for the Daytona 500 has died down. There aren’t 50+ cars anymore. This season, there could be as many as ten open cars in the race, which would be fantastic. It would make the Duels worth watching and give fans

Jeff Gluck of The Athletic is not a fan of the new rule. He has already written a harsh criticism of the provisional and Trackhouse taking it.

“Yes, you read that correctly,” the longtime motorsports journalist wrote. “NASCAR’s new rule states if a “significant contributor” from another series shows up and doesn’t earn a starting spot on their own merits, one will simply be created for them; a failure would trigger a bonus 41st starting position just for that driver.”

By taking the provisional, a team cannot earn purse money. But Gluck addressed that as well in his diatribe.

“Not that it will really matter. Castroneves isn’t doing it for the money, and his Trackhouse Racing team has already signed high-profile sponsor Wendy’s to back the effort. If you were hoping to tune into the traditional Duel races to see if Castroneves could make the field, that drama is already gone.”

Gluck goes on to make comparisons to the Indy 500. He also pointed out that this is happening for one reason and one reason only, “publicity.” And he’s not wrong.

NASCAR rule waters down the Daytona 500

If we are honest with ourselves, the Daytona 500 has not had the same weight in recent years. We don’t see massive qualifying fields. Instead, we’re lucky to get 42 cars to show up and give us a little drama as to who is going home and who is staying.

This season, with a potential for five or more teams to go home after the Duels, it was measuring up to be a great show. Instead, we get a pseudo-fourth charter for Trackhouse to enter the Daytona 500 with Helio Castroneves.

This doesn’t hurt any other open teams. Helio will get a bonus 41st spot if he fails to make the race on his own merits. But it hurts Helio. NASCAR fans are not going to accept this as a legitimate qualifying effort. It will be fun to see how far up the board he can start.

The worst part isn’t even if he uses the provisional. The worst part is that we are going to get to Daytona and this NASCAR rule won’t even be used. But everyone knows now that it is in Trackhouse and Castroneves’ back pocket. Hopefully, the 91 team does well and proves that they belong.