Nothing is ever so straightforward when it comes to NASCAR and their almighty rules. Reacting to the massive backlash by the racing community, the governing body made some huge changes to the rulebook. The DVP policy had a positive overhaul, the playoff waiver rule got more refined, and OEMs were now in the firing line in case of a repeat of the Martinsville-like situation. However, the Open Exemption Provisional is causing a stir before the Daytona 500 race.
OEP allows one world-class driver to have a guaranteed spot in the field if they fail to make it to the main event through qualifiers. Trackhouse Racing has become the first team to utilize this OEP and has fielded four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves in their No. 91 Chevy car for the Great American Race. This announcement came only a few hours after NASCAR put out the new rule structure. While this initiative will allow non-NASCAR drivers to enter a major event, this new provision isn’t clear.
Vice-Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon raised some important questions while speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Although he did appreciate this initiative, he could wrap his head around how Trackhouse and Castroneves were given priority. And what are the criteria other than “world-class” drivers that would weigh in deciding the driver suited for the OEP?
Jeff Gordon wants NASCAR to clear the air surrounding the controversial OEP rule
So here’s what we know so far about the NASCAR new Open Exemption Provisional. A world-class driver can secure his spot on the grid with an open entry with a request that is put in 90 days before the race. Only one OEP will be allowed per race, and none of the full-time Cup Series drivers can apply for the provision. However, what if multiple race teams decided to put in a request for the same? What would define the world-class status of a driver who is applying for OEP?
Imagine if drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Jimmie Johnson were to apply for the provision for the same Cup Series. This is when things could get tricky, and that is why Jeff Gordon wants to understand how Trackhouse Racing was given priority with Helio Castroneves. “What I’m questioning, or what I need more answers to, is what’s the criteria that dictate who gets in and who doesn’t. Does it just become a popularity contest, and what again is the popularity are basing it off?” Gordon shared this while speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
He also asked where does former NASCAR driver fare when up against some popular names in the world of motorsports. The seven-time champ, Jimmie Johnson could’ve also opted to apply for the provisional, and had he done that, would NASCAR still side with the Brazilian driver? “Then you’ve got past champion and seven-time champion like Jimmie Johnson; where does he fit in that kind of criteria? That’s my only question about it all, and I don’t have all the answers, but that’s certainly something I’m going to ask Nascar when I get a chance to.”
TALLADEGA, AL – APRIL 23: Jeff Gordon looks on before the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Geico 500 on April 23, 2023, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, AL. Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire AUTO: APR 23 NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon230423473500
This new rule has also come under fire after former driver Mike Wallace’s attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 was cancelled by NASCAR. This whole saga questioned NASCAR’s decision-making process and lack of clarity. So it’s fair to say the OEP is a work in progress, but Trackhouse Racing founder Justin Marks has come out in NASCAR’s defense.
Trackhouse Racing was the only one to apply for OEP
All of this was being played out behind closed doors as NASCAR announced their new rule change on January 10. Teams are required to apply for the provisional 90 days in advance of the race. With the whole NASCAR versus 23XI Racing saga going on, only THR looked to have applied for the provision. This is why NASCAR didn’t have the trouble, as no other teams or drivers had filed an appeal.
Reacting to the ongoing saga about the OEP and its use, Marks said this when he was attending the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. “So, I understand the philosophy behind it. You know, that was what showed up in the charter agreement. Everybody read it. I think we were the only ones to put our hands up. Everybody could, but we did.”
He also highlighted why OEP makes sense to secure a spot for star drivers like Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen when they decided to race in NASCAR. “If we have Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen one day race the Daytona 500, and miss the cut due to a restart mistake, it would take the wind out of the sails. NASCAR is a promotional business, and decisions like these make sense in that context.”
For the time being it looks like NASCAR is trying to find a middle ground on how to make the best possible use of the open provision. And given this is the first year of the rule being implemented, there’s enough evidence to suggest that it will undergo some changes in the future.
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