For years, NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP) has been a lightning rod for controversy. From time-limited repairs to inconsistent enforcement, the rule often left teams and fans frustrated, with races occasionally marred by questionable disqualifications. Now, ahead of the 2025 season, NASCAR has rolled out a sweeping revision of the policy in an attempt to put control back into the hands of the teams—and potentially revolutionize race strategies.
What’s Changing in NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy?
The biggest change to the DVP is that teams will no longer be forced to operate under strict time limits when making repairs in the garage. Previously, if teams couldn’t fix a damaged car within a seven-minute pit road window, they were disqualified. The updated rules aim to empower teams by allowing repairs to take place without time constraints in the garage, as long as the car meets minimum speed requirements upon its return to the track.
Another significant aspect of the overhaul is NASCAR’s effort to eliminate bias in how the rules are enforced. After several high-profile incidents in 2024—most notably at Kansas Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway—the sport’s governing body faced intense scrutiny for inconsistencies. Under the new policy, flat tires or minor damage that previously sidelined drivers prematurely should no longer result in automatic disqualifications.
Why the Change?
The catalyst for the overhaul came during the 2024 playoffs, a season marred by controversies surrounding the DVP. One of the most infamous incidents involved Josh Berry, who was eliminated from the race at Kansas after being unable to drive back to pit road due to a flat tire. Meanwhile, at Talladega, drivers like Chase Elliott and Chase Briscoe were granted more leniency, sparking accusations of favoritism.
Spire Motorsports’ crew chief Luke Lambert reflected on the unfairness of past decisions:
“We saw a couple of examples last year when guys had flat tires that resulted in them being out of the race when they otherwise shouldn’t have been. This cleans up some of that from NASCAR’s standpoint to where they don’t have to police it.”
What Do Teams Think?
The response from teams has been overwhelmingly positive. Lambert praised the rule changes, emphasizing that they allow for smarter decisions and better race management:
“NASCAR is putting things back in the team’s hands. Hopefully, it’s gonna result in not having any situations where you have a really strong contender outside of the race that could have a quick repair and get back in.”
The new rules also open up opportunities for teams to salvage races where previously they would have been forced to retire. By removing the stopwatch from garage repairs, teams can now focus on ensuring the car is safe and competitive without rushing to beat an arbitrary timer.
A Shift in Strategy
The revised DVP could fundamentally change how teams approach damage and repairs during races. With no looming time constraint, strategists may opt for more thorough fixes that enhance performance rather than just trying to limp through the remainder of the race. Additionally, it reduces the pressure on pit crews to execute rapid, high-stakes repairs, allowing them to prioritize safety and precision.
However, the rule also introduces potential challenges. Teams will need to carefully monitor whether repairs take so long that they fall multiple laps down, making recovery difficult. Additionally, NASCAR’s ability to enforce minimum speed requirements consistently will be crucial to ensuring fairness.
Will the Changes Work?
While the 2025 season will be the ultimate test of the revised DVP, early signs suggest it’s a step in the right direction. By eliminating strict time limits and reducing subjective enforcement, NASCAR hopes to avoid the controversies that plagued previous seasons.
For fans, the changes promise fewer frustrating disqualifications and a more exciting race experience. For teams, it means a fairer shot at staying competitive after an incident.
As Lambert summed it up:
“This is about giving teams a chance to control their destiny and keeping NASCAR out of the repair process. It’s what we’ve needed for a long time.”