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Kyle Larson’s Championship Hopes in Jeopardy? NASCAR’s New Waiver Rule Could Change Everything

Simon Monroy by Simon Monroy
February 12, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
Kyle Larson’s Championship Hopes in Jeopardy? NASCAR’s New Waiver Rule Could Change Everything

Kyle Larson talks with the press on the red carpet during NASCAR media day on Wednesday, Feb.12, 2025.

Has NASCAR lost its competitive edge? Do skill and passion no longer suffice? Or is this the dawn of a new era, one that redefines what it takes to be a champion?

In a bold move to protect the integrity of the sport, NASCAR has redrawn the rulebook on playoff waivers—and at the heart of the controversy? Kyle Larson.

Dubbed the “Kyle Larson Rule,” NASCAR’s new waiver policy forces drivers to prioritize the Cup Series over non-NASCAR events, while also cracking down on aggressive retaliation tactics.

Under this rule:
🚨 Drivers who miss a race for non-medical reasons (like racing elsewhere) lose all their playoff points and start the postseason at 2,000 points—the bare minimum.
🚨 Suspended drivers will no longer be eligible for a waiver.
🚨 Medical and family emergencies remain the only valid exceptions.

This means Larson’s dream of running the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day—the “Double”—could cost him a real shot at the NASCAR championship.

But while NASCAR claims this rule is about fairness and commitment, not everyone is convinced—including Denny Hamlin, who sees some major flaws in the new policy.


Denny Hamlin: Will This Rule Stop Dirty Driving?

Denny Hamlin, never one to shy away from controversy, sees a potential loophole in NASCAR’s new system.

“The waiver is all fine. Certainly, NASCAR wants their NASCAR drivers to stay in NASCAR and not do anything else. But on the racetrack, you’re gonna think about whether you choose to rear-hook someone with the risk of losing all your playoff points.”

In other words? Drivers might still wreck each other—they’ll just be more strategic about it.

🔹 Think back to Richmond 2024. Austin Dillon wrecked Hamlin on the final lap to steal the win. Dillon was disqualified from playoff contention—but will NASCAR be consistent with such penalties in 2025?

🔹 Or Coca-Cola 600 in 2023. Chase Elliott right-hooked Hamlin into the wall after a heated battle. NASCAR suspended Elliott, but under the new rule, Elliott wouldn’t have been eligible for a waiver, making his punishment even more severe.

Hamlin’s concern is simple: Will this rule actually stop reckless racing? Or will it just force drivers to be sneakier about it?


Kyle Larson’s Indy 500 Dreams: Is the Risk Worth It?

No driver has more to lose under this new policy than Kyle Larson.

His 2024 Indy 500 debut was a disappointment—rain delays forced him to stay at Indy and skip the start of the Coca-Cola 600, putting him in a sticky situation with NASCAR.

NASCAR gave him a waiver, keeping him eligible for the playoffs. But in 2025, there’s no safety net.

If Larson misses a race again for the Indy 500, he will:
❌ Lose every single playoff point he’s accumulated.
❌ Start the postseason at 2,000 points, giving him virtually no advantage.
❌ Potentially wreck his entire championship campaign.

For a driver as talented as Larson, the Indy 500 is a bucket list item. But is one race at Indy worth jeopardizing an entire NASCAR season?

This puts Hendrick Motorsports and Larson in a brutal dilemma:

🏁 Go for the Indy 500, risk throwing away a title shot?
🏁 Stay committed to NASCAR, protect playoff points, but miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?


Does NASCAR Have the Balance Right?

This new rule was designed to maintain fairness—NASCAR needed a way to punish missed races without outright banning part-time drivers from the playoffs.

But Denny Hamlin isn’t buying it.

“For really half the field, they don’t have any playoff points, so maybe it won’t change anything. If they’re on the outside of you, then they’re kind of handcuffed at that point.”

Essentially, for mid-pack drivers with no playoff points, this rule doesn’t really matter. But for top-tier drivers like Larson, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

🚨 Will this rule prevent “right-hook revenge wrecks”?
🚨 Does it force drivers to be less aggressive—or just sneakier?
🚨 And is NASCAR making it impossible for Cup drivers to pursue major motorsports opportunities outside the series?


Final Verdict: Smart Rule or Overreach?

Kyle Larson’s 2025 decision just got a lot harder.

  • Go all-in on NASCAR, keep his playoff points intact, and protect his championship chances?
  • Risk it all for the Indy 500, knowing that one missed race could wipe out months of hard work?

Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin and other veterans remain skeptical that this rule will actually clean up aggressive driving—and fear that NASCAR might be overstepping in controlling drivers’ careers.

So here’s the real question: Is this rule a necessary evolution, or is NASCAR taking too much control over drivers’ decisions?

🔥 What do you think? Is this the right move, or is NASCAR making things worse?

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