NASCAR tweaks open exemption provisional rule
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR issued a rules bulletin Wednesday, detailing a key change to its open exemption provisional rule.
The open exemption provisional guarantees a starting spot for a “world-class driver” who wishes to make a NASCAR Cup Series start in an open entry. If there are more than 40 cars entered, a driver can take the OEP and lock themselves into the race, no matter if they get into the race on their qualifying time.
The original rule stated if a driver needed to use the OEP, then the field would expand to 41 drivers. If they didn’t need to, then the field would stay at 40 drivers. That meant an open entry could potentially lose out on a starting spot if the OEP driver qualified on time.
NASCAR changed the rule Wednesday to expand the field to 41 drivers no matter if a driver needs to use the OEP or not. This means the field would consist of 36 chartered drivers, four open drivers and the OEP driver if there are ever more than 40 entrants.
Helio Castroneves was the first driver to use the OEP after he crashed in his Daytona Duel. Without the OEP, he would’ve missed the Daytona 500.
MORE: Breaking down the major NASCAR rule changes for 2025
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com