NASCAR confirms Jimmie Johnson is qualified for Open Exemption Provisional
NASCAR has confirmed that the new OEP rules is not limited to racer from other motorsports series and stock car racing legends can also use it.
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Jimmie Johnson (Via IMAGO)
Going into the 2025 NASCAR Cup season, the sanctioning body made some interesting rules changes. One of the biggest changes among them was the Open Exemption Provisional. This allows drivers, who have achieved success in different motorsports series around the world start a Cup race, without qualifying on an open entry.
Four times Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves is set to become the first racer to use OEP, as he set to make Cup debut in the 2025 Daytona 500 with Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 car. This created some controversy in the community, as many assumed that the provision is only applicable to non-NASCAR racers.
The sanctioning body has put an end to these rumors and has clarified that drivers like Jimmie Johnson or Martin Truex Jr. are qualified to use the provision, if they apply for it 90 days before the race. But these legends didn’t want to use them, as Castroneves was the only driver who applied for it for the Daytona 500.
Jimmie Johnson would qualify for an Open Exemption Provisional. NASCAR says it would have forced a conversation if he and Helio had requested it for Daytona 500…Right now, no limit for number of times a driver can ask one.
Matt Weaver reported siting Veteran crew chief Jason Burdett.
Jimmie Johnson would qualify for an Open Exemption Provisional. NASCAR says it would have forced a conversation if he and Helio had requested it for Daytona 500.
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) January 27, 2025
Right now, no limit for number of times a driver can ask one.
John Probst says this is new; will change as necessary
NASCAR is yet to completely build the rules for OEP
Though the basics for the OEP rule change is in the new charter the teams signed, it has provisions that would allow NASCAR to build new structure and rules as it sees fit. This would allow the sanctioning body to better define the criteria as well as the number of racers that would be allowed to partake in the event.
- “It’s outlined in the charter agreement document but the shorthand version is ‘experience, success in motorsports and market appeal.’”
- “While the basics of the Open Exemption Provision is spelled out in the charter agreement document, it also allows NASCAR Event Management flexibility to build structure and rules around it.”
While the basics of the Open Exemption Provision is spelled out in the charter agreement document, it also allows NASCAR Event Management flexibility to build structure and rules around it.
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) January 27, 2025
The clarification from NASCAR shows the legendary ex-NASCAR drivers can also use this provision, but its very unlikely to see it happening as they would love to get into the race on merit in front of their fans. It would be interesting to see how the rules changes are going to change the sports as whole.
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Justin P Joy
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