Before the season began, NASCAR issued a new ruling that allowed a 41st car into the starting grid at Daytona for the 500. The rule was designed to allow, by invitation only, a driver from outside NASCAR to participate in the race.
Driving the number 91 car, four time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves was allowed to run in the Daytona 500.
NASCAR has made some changes to the rule – a rule that drew a great deal of criticism from fans who did not understand how the rule worked.
Known as the Open Exemption Provisional (OEP), the competition committee said, “the Open Exemption Provisional will be applied only if more than 40 vehicles are qualifying for the Event. In that case, it will be applied regardless of the vehicle’s Qualifying position, and the starting field will be 41.”
The ruling allows any driver entered in the race to run and collect points and prize money if the field has no more than 40 drivers. If, however, there are more than 40 drivers entered in the race (which frequently happens and Daytona and sometimes the Talladega and Coco-Cola 600 races) then the rule can be implemented but the OEP driver cannot collect any prize money or be awarded points.
The rule book now states, “NASCAR has full discretion to deem certain Events ineligible for the OEP.”
With the largest field in 10 years, the 2025 Daytona 500 had 43 drivers enter the race for a 40 car field plus the OEP driver. Two drivers ended up going home.