Kevin Harvick calls out 'flaw' in new NASCAR provisional rule change

One very important rule change coming to the NASCAR Cup Series is the Open Exemption Provisional and Kevin Harvick has thoughts. The new rule will grant an extra 41st starting position for a notable driver outside of NASCAR should that driver fail to make the 40-car field in a certain race.

For the Daytona 500, Helio Castroneves has the provisional. Trackhouse Racing requested it months before the race and was granted the exemption. In case Helio doesn’t qualify on speed or racing in the Duels, he will be given an extra spot in the race. He will forfeit all points and prize money, though.

Kevin Harvick is one of the vocal critics of the new rule. He claims that there is an overlooked flaw in the rule. The rule is aimed at non-full-time NASCAR drivers, and ideally, drivers from outside of NASCAR entirely.

It is not meant to act as a champion’s provisional. So, Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. would not receive the exemption over someone like Castroneves if they wanted to also apply for the provisional.

“That’s the thing I don’t like about this rule,” Kevin Harvick said on his Happy Hour podcast. “I think it caught a lot of people off guard. I love the intent and I love the fact that it’s going to attract people from other forms of racing. But I odn’t like the fact that it left out our own. We’ve gone back and we’ve figured all these things out with all the guys that kind of had a bad taste in their mouth with how they’ve been treated the last couple of years.”

Should former NASCAR champions be considered for this provisional? Kevin Harvick believes they should. Maybe he’s hoping to land one of these provisionals in the future?

Kevin Harvick highlights ‘flaw’ with provisional

While NASCAR has reached out to the past drivers more in recent years, there is more to be done. Make these drivers feel welcome to come back to the sport. You’re telling me Carl Edwards wouldn’t get one of these provisionals? If he wanted to race at Martinsville or the Coke 600 NASCAR would say no?

“I just don’t know, I get that we’re trying to expose it to the world, but sometimes I feel like the flaw and some of the things that we do we forget about our own,” Harvick concluded.

Kevin Harvick has been around the sport for years. He is in a special position as a recently retired driver. Harvick understands both the problems and concerns of current drivers and retired drivers as well. NASCAR should take his word seriously.

The Open Exemption Provisional is controversial. Just wait until if and when it is used. Hopefully, Helio Castroneves won’t even have to use it and will make the Daytona 500 on merit and speed.