The Daytona 500 is always a spectacle, but this year, it’s the controversial Open Exemption Provisional (OEP) that has fans, drivers, and NASCAR legends fuming. The rule, designed to bring in non-NASCAR stars, has been branded unfair by none other than Kevin Harvick, who believes NASCAR is neglecting its own legends in favor of outsiders.
The biggest flashpoint? Four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves has been granted a guaranteed spot in the Great American Race—while past NASCAR champions Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson could miss out altogether.
Harvick didn’t hold back.
“So what I’m taking in is that retired world-class NASCAR champions are not world-class. So not eligible for provisional?” he ranted on his Happy Hour podcast.
How Did This Happen? NASCAR’s OEP Explained
The Open Exemption Provisional gives a team a guaranteed starting spot in a Cup Series race for a non-NASCAR driver—but the way NASCAR has set it up is raising eyebrows.
To qualify:
- A driver must be deemed “world-class” (but NASCAR hasn’t defined what that means).
- The team must submit the request 90 days before the event.
- Full-time Cup drivers are NOT eligible for the provisional.
With Trackhouse Racing pouncing on the rule to lock in Castroneves, NASCAR has effectively shut out its own former champions, while giving open-wheel veterans a free pass into its biggest race.
Harvick Blasts NASCAR for ‘Ignoring Its Own’
Harvick is far from alone in his frustration. The idea of attracting top-tier talent from other racing series is exciting, but Harvick believes NASCAR is failing its own icons in the process.
“That’s the thing I don’t like about this rule. It caught a lot of people off guard,” Harvick said.
He questioned why NASCAR isn’t prioritizing its own past champions—drivers that fans would actually want to see make a one-off return.
“Imagine Tony Stewart hopping back inside of a Cup car to race at a road course, or Dale Earnhardt Jr. making a one-off start in the JRM Cup car. Would NASCAR consider them world-class drivers over the decorated stars from other series?”
According to the current OEP rules, the answer appears to be NO.
“I get it that we’re trying to expose it to the world, but forget about our own,” Harvick added, making it clear that NASCAR is missing a golden opportunity to celebrate its own heritage.
Jeff Gordon and Other NASCAR Insiders Join the Criticism
Harvick isn’t the only one questioning NASCAR’s logic. Hendrick Motorsports VP Jeff Gordon has also raised serious doubts about how the OEP was structured and implemented.
While the rule could open doors for big international stars, its vague eligibility criteria and bias against past NASCAR champions are already causing backlash.
If Jimmie Johnson or Martin Truex Jr. miss the Daytona 500, while Helio Castroneves gets a guaranteed start, expect the controversy to explode even further.
Will NASCAR Fix the Rule Before It’s Too Late?
The OEP has already sparked debate, and with the Daytona 500 fast approaching, NASCAR may need to act fast to avoid a massive PR disaster.
Will fan pressure and driver outrage force NASCAR to tweak the rule? Or will outsiders continue to get priority over the very legends who built the sport?
One thing’s for sure: This isn’t the last we’ll hear about NASCAR’s most controversial rule of 2025.