The days of intentional wrecks and easy playoff waivers are over. NASCAR’s new waiver policy has introduced a high-stakes penalty system that could derail a driver’s entire season for retaliatory actions, rule-breaking, or even missing a race for non-medical reasons.
Denny Hamlin, one of the sport’s most outspoken veterans, has broken down the implications of this major rules shake-up on his podcast Actions Detrimental, revealing how the 2023 Chase Elliott vs. Hamlin saga at Charlotte Motor Speedway would have played out very differently under these new guidelines.
Elliott’s Charlotte Payback—A Vacation, Not a Punishment
Let’s rewind to Lap 186 of the Coca-Cola 600 in 2023. Denny Hamlin squeezed Chase Elliott into the wall, and in retaliation, Elliott turned left—sending Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota headfirst into the barrier. NASCAR deemed it intentional and suspended Elliott for one race, which at the time, seemed like little more than a slap on the wrist.
Hamlin didn’t hold back on the flaws of the old system, saying:
“Because I think the argument was that, hey, it’s just a vacation at that point, you know? Chase Elliott, trust me, wanted to be at the next race… but he got a week’s vacation. He really didn’t lose anything other than how many points he would have accumulated the next week.”
That “vacation penalty” loophole is now closed. Under the new rules, if Elliott (or any driver) intentionally wrecks someone and gets suspended, they won’t just miss a race—they’ll lose every playoff point they’ve earned up to that moment.
The New Rules: What’s Changed?
Previously, suspensions meant sitting out one race and moving on. Now, drivers who miss a race for non-medical reasons will:
- Forfeit all their accumulated playoff points
- Lose eligibility for future playoff points
- Put their entire championship hopes in jeopardy
The only waivers NASCAR will now allow are for:
✅ Medical emergencies
✅ The birth of a child
✅ A family emergency
Everything else? Zero tolerance.
A Warning Shot to Aggressive Drivers
This is a major shift in NASCAR’s philosophy. For years, drivers like Matt Kenseth and Bubba Wallace have been suspended for intentional payback crashes, but the penalty never went beyond missing a single race. Now? If a driver loses control of their emotions and retaliates, they could wipe out their entire season in a single moment of rage.
Kyle Larson’s 2023 Waiver Drama: Would He Have Lost His Playoff Spot?
Last season, Kyle Larson nearly lost his championship bid due to NASCAR’s unpredictable waiver system. Trying to pull off the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double, a rain delay in Indianapolis caused him to miss the start of the Charlotte race. NASCAR hesitated for weeks before finally granting him a waiver.
But under the 2024 rules, Larson wouldn’t have been so lucky. If a driver chooses to race in another series and misses a Cup event, they will automatically lose all playoff points—no exceptions.
The Bottom Line: NASCAR is Cleaning Up the Sport
NASCAR’s new waiver policy isn’t just about discipline—it’s about shaping the competition. The message is clear:
- No more retaliatory wrecks without consequences.
- No more skipping races for non-medical reasons.
- No more waiting for NASCAR to hand out waivers on a case-by-case basis.
With every point more valuable than ever, expect drivers to think twice before making an aggressive move that could end their title hopes.
The 2024 NASCAR season just got a whole lot more intense—and there’s no room for mistakes.
