NASCAR makes major changes to Damaged Vehicle Policy after 2024 controversies

Massive rule changes are coming to NASCAR in the 2025 season. The Damaged Vehicle Policy is getting a makeover. In fact, the way the DVP is constructed currently will be almost entirely done away with.

Today NASCAR released a flurry of new rule changes ahead of the 2025 Daytona 500. Among them was the newly redone Damaged Vehicle Policy. Fans will like this one.

Jeff Gluck of The Athletic reported on the several rule changes coming up. From his reading of the change, the seven-minute clock will remain. However, instead of being out of the race after those seven minutes on pit road, teams will simply have to go to the garage for repairs.

Teams can now go to the garage to make repairs. There will be no DNFs as a result of the Damaged Vehicle Policy moving forward. If a car is unable to drive off the track to pit road or the garage on its own power and needs a tow, it will be towed directly to the garage.

“Cars now CAN go back to the garage to fix crash damage and then return to the race. If they’re on pit road, they can work until the [7-minute] clock is exceeded but then need to go to the garage. There’s no clock in the garage.

“AND – if a car can’t drive back (flat tires rule here!), it gets towed to the garage. Period. But again, that doesn’t mean ‘out of the race’ anymore.”

One of the most notable: DVP policy is getting an overhaul. No more DVP clock, at least in terms of eliminating a car from the race. Cars now CAN go back to the garage to fix crash damage and then return to the race. If they’re on pit road, they can work until the 7-min clock is…

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) January 10, 2025

The seven-minute clock and the automatic tow to the garage and out of the race last year caused issues.

NASCAR clarifies, changes Damaged Vehicle Policy

In the 2024 season, especially in the playoffs, the Damaged Vehicle Policy was a point of controversy for NASCAR. Ryan Blaney wrecked at Watkins Glen and felt that he wasn’t given a chance to continue the race. During the aftermath, Blaney was very vocal.

Then at Kansas, Josh Berry had the same thing happen. Except his was obviously more egregious. Wrecking on Lap 1 due to no fault of his own, Berry didn’t suffer much damage. Instead, he had four flat tires from sliding across the track.

However, due to the DVP policy at the time, he couldn’t be towed to pit road. At least, that’s what fans were led to believe. Following this incident, multiple playoff drivers were towed to pit road for repairs at Talladega. That included Chase Elliott.

NASCAR should be making changes. As a whole, these feel like good moves from the sanctioning body. But you can’t make changes without new consequences arising. No one is saying these are perfect fixes, but they appear to be better than before.