NASCAR insiders praise Damaged Vehicle Policy overhaul after 2024 issues

At the end of last week, NASCAR dropped a new set of rules for the 2025 season. Among the changes made, a new Damaged Vehicle Policy. The new DVP will still include a seven-minute clock, but teams will not be disqualified as a consequence of the rule.

If teams are unable to get a car fixed within the seven-minute window on pit road they will now be able to go to the garage to continue repairs, with no time restriction. Cars that are unable to move on their own after an on-track incident will be towed straight to the garage for repairs.

Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic have reprised their podcast for 2025. The main focus was on these new rule changes from NASCAR.

On The Teardown, the two were largely in agreement; this is a positive change.

“This feels much more straightforward,” Bianchi said. “I really don’t have any issues with this.”

In his response, Gluck also gave a thumbs up for the new Damaged Vehicle Policy.

“I think this is a win overall, you know, let the teams decide if they continue in the race,” he said. “They feel like, you know, it’s worth trying to get back out there, 40 laps down to pick up a point or two if you can. Let them decide that. That’s fine, and you know, the towing thing as it continues to be this sort of unresolved thing, I just want to see that consistent then.”

After issues in the 2024 playoffs with the DVP, this is a good move from NASCAR. As Bianchi said, it is more straightforward. Teams know what to expect.

Damaged Vehicle Policy adds more strategy to races

It wasn’t that long ago when NASCAR allowed cars without hoods and other body pieces to race on the track. While there is a balance between skeleton race cars and the DVP rule of the last few years, it was fun.

When there is a big wreck in a superspeedway race, or any race, we might see teams fighting for those precious one or two points they can squeeze out. It isn’t hard to imagine a big wreck at Daytona to end the regular season and two or more bubble drivers end up in a wreck.

Now those bubble drivers have more to race for. It puts another wrinkle into the race. They won’t just be marked off as DNFs for having a damaged car. Any time we can have a race within the race, it’s a good thing.

This is going to make pit crews and garage crews more important. Those team members are going to have more to compete for. More competition during the race is a good thing.