Kenny Wallace explains why Jimmie Johnson is ignored in the OEP rules unlike Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves
Kenny Wallace explain why NASCAR has changed the rules to allow Helio Castroneves a fixed seat in Daytona 500 and not Jimmie Johnson.
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Jimmie Johnson, Kenny Wallace and Helio Castroneves (Via IMAGO)
The 2025 Daytona 500 is set to feature one of the biggest line-up cars in the modern era, with reportedly over 46 cars attempting to qualify. Alongside the 36 full-time charters that will get a slot in the main race, four other cars will get the chance to qualify for the crown jewel race and make it into the 40-car final line-up.
NASCAR recently has made a rule change that can potentially make it a 41-car starting line-up. The new Open Exemption Provisional or OEP rule will give the champions from other series a free starting position in any race. At Daytona the opportunity will go to Helio Castroneves, the four times Indy 500 champion, who is set to debut in the sport with Trackhouse Racing.
But the fans are upset about the fact that the opportunity isn’t going to someone like Jimmie Johnson, who is seven-time Cup champion, set to race with his team LMC. But ex-racer Kenny Wallace has the perfect explanation for it. He highlighted that NASCAR has this rule to get more fans to the sport, and the cold hard fact that Castroneves is capable of getting more eyes to the sport.
Jimmie Johnson’s a seven-time NASCAR champion. You know, he knows how to drive these cars, and as sad as it is to say, I think… Jimmie Johnson is a legend, but he’s just not going to draw the crowd that Helio Castroneves would. That’s my opinion … Now that’s a cold hard fact, and I know that’s hard to hear.
Kenny Wallace said via his YouTube channel.
NASCAR insider also called out the new rule change
Most of the NASCAR fans are still not digesting the rule change correctly and are angry over the supposed hypocrisy. 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace’s spotter and the co-host of Door Bumper Clear podcast, Freddie Kraft shared his feelings. He called out NASCAR over the rule change and overlooking the champion.
I might be slightly hungover and my eyes might not be working great so let me just ask the crowd for confirmation. We’re giving Helio a guaranteed spot, but not Jimmie Johnson?
Freddie Kraft wrote on X.
The feelings of the NASCAR fans are valid and at the same time NASCAR is right to give the opportunity to champions from other series, as this gives more marketing opportunity. At the end of the day NASCAR can’t be blamed for not giving the champions of the sport a free pass and expecting them to qualify on their merit, because they are capable of it.
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Justin P Joy
(4854 Articles Published)