NASCAR updated its damaged vehicle policy for the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to allow teams to repair their cars in the garage.
CONCORD, N.C. -- NASCAR updated its damaged vehicle policy for the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to allow teams to repair their cars in the garage.
NOAPS and NCTS teams will now be able to return to the race after being in the garage for repairs longer than seven minutes.
Prior to Wednesday's rule change, NOAPS and NCTS teams had a total of seven minutes to make repairs on pit road and then had to make minimum speed to stay in the race. They could only go to the garage after making minimum speed.
While the new rules still limit NOAPS and NCTS teams to seven minutes for repairs on pit road, teams can now choose to go straight to the garage, if they wish, without falling out of the race.
Once they return to the track from the damaged vehicle policy (DVP) area in the garage, a driver will get one chance to meet minimum speed and can't return to the DVP area before making minimum speed. They'll also be allowed one pit stop.
By the third lap, if they don't make minimum speed, they're out of the race.
The rules reflect what NASCAR enacted for the Cup Series in 2025. Repair restrictions apply now in all series, as NASCAR doesn't allow certain parts and pieces to be repaired or replaced mid-race, but the rules allow for most typical repairs.
The rules also allow for drivers to get a tow back to pit road or the garage area without falling out of the race -- a contentious point that led to the rule changes.
At Talladega Superspeedway in fall 2024, a massive, 28-car wreck required multiple drivers to get a tow. However, many of them fell out of the race because of it, prompting NASCAR to make changes.
In the first year with the revised rules, there were few issues with cars causing issues after returning from repairs. Many drivers were able to get back on to the track and collect points, instead of falling out of the race after not being able to repair their cars within an allotted time or not being able to meet minimum speed.
Officials will still maintain a seven-minute time limit for repairs on pit road. Any repairs beyond the seven minutes must be made in the garage, where there is no time limit on the repair work.
NASCAR will penalize teams if a vehicle leaves its pit box to get back in the race and the DVP clock expires before it gets to the exit of pit road.
NASCAR also changed a rule in the Craftsman Truck Series that took away practice time for failing tech inspection.
Frankie Muniz candidly posted about his excitement for the rule changing and how he was affected by it.
"Glad NASCAR changed the no practice rule for failing tech first time by. Granted, @joshreaume and I were the only ones this season that had to sit out an entire practice session when I had one of the sport's biggest sponsors on my truck who also purchased an in-car camera where they expected to get some TV time during that practice session. Shame it didn't happen to one of the many companies owned by the driver's dads but to a real sponsor spending real money. NASCAR should make it right with said sponsor," Muniz said.
NCTS practice at Charlotte begins Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS2, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
