Denny Hamlin brands NASCAR’s new Open Exemption Provisional as “a long-term loss”
23XI Racing co-owner and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin shared his dislike towards the new Open Exemption Provisional rule.
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Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)
The NASCAR Cup gargae is set for the first race of the 2025 season, with the unofficial season opener The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Coming into the season the sanctioning body made some serious changes to the rule book, and even introduced a new provision, Open Exemption Provisional, that guarantees elite racers from other motorsports series a free starting spot.
Four times Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves is set to become the first racer to use it, as he is set to race in the Daytona 500 with Trackhouse Racing. Not everyone in the garage is a big fan of the new rule and one of them is the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin. He pointed out that the ruling reeks of desperation, which made gain short-term goals but will cause long-term loss.
It reeks of desperation. I don’t love it. It’s just reaching to do whatever you can to make a headline. It’s a short-term gain at a long-term loss.
Denny Hamlin said via Racer.com.
Denny Hamlin on the Open Exemption Provisional rule
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 1, 2025
"It reeks of desperation. I don't love it. It's just reaching to do whatever you can to make a headline. It's a short term gain at a long-term loss."
Says that a driver with credentials should come here and earn it. pic.twitter.com/ymBOYpHtnQ
Further talking about the point, Hamlin pointed out that as NASCAR Cup Series is a premier racing sport in the U.S, it shouldn’t give out race slots for free. He believes the elite racers should earn their way naturally.
I think you’re the premier stock car series in the U.S., the premier racing sport in the U.S. — be the big boys and force people to come in here and get their credentials and do it the natural way.
Denny Hamlin added.
Kevin Harvick ends Denny Hamlin’s championship dreams
Denny Hamlin is one of the most accomplished racers without a title win in the sports history and 2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick expects this continue forever. He believes his best opportunity to win the Bill France Cup was in the past.
He (Denny Hamlin) didn’t win the championship, and I don’t believe he will win a championship going forward. I think his best opportunity was with what he had, and I don’t know that he has time to rebuild something else into that.
Kevin Harvick said.
The comments from the ex-SHR racer seems really bold, but something that have some rational to it. With the new crew chief leading the No:11 team, it would tough for Hamlin to make a comeback his top form. It would be interesting to see if the TRD driver can prove Harvick wrong in the coming years.
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Justin P Joy
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