Hamlin says Open Exemption Provisional 'reeks of desperation' by NASCAR

Denny Hamlin said Saturday that NASCAR’s new Open Exemption Provisional “reeks of desperation” when asked how he felt about the sanctioning body granting a world-class driver from another discipline an automatic spot in the starting lineup.

“I don’t know how else to say it; I don’t know how nice you can really say it,” Hamlin said at Bowman Gray Stadium, where NASCAR begins its season with the Cook Out Clash. “It just feels like you’re really trying to get any kind of headline you can to be relevant and I don’t love it.”

NASCAR will see the OEP in action for the first time later this month at the Daytona 500. The procedure, which was included in the new Charter Agreement, is new beginning this season.

Helio Castroneves is guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500 field, as Trackhouse Racing has requested and been granted the provisional. Castroneves will either earn his spot by qualifying speed or a qualifying Duel or by using the provisional. If he earns his spot, the field will be capped at 40 drivers. But if Castroneves has to fall back on the provisional, NASCAR will expand the field to 41 drivers.

The provisional is open to world-class drivers who want to start in the NASCAR Cup Series. It guarantees that fans will see the driver race, and NASCAR can capitalize on the attention. The team must request the provisional 90 days in advance.

However, the provisional will also be open to non-full-time NASCAR drivers. If they apply, NASCAR would consider Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr.

Only one Open Exemption Provisional can be used per race. NASCAR will consider who is granted the provisional once all requests are made in the 90-day window.

“To me, it’s a short-term gain long-term loss,” Hamlin continued. “I think you’re the premier stock car series in the U.S., the premier racing sport in the U.S. — be the big boys and force people to come in here and get their credentials and do it the natural way.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a big factor anywhere other than Daytona, but just simply saying that someone has a name that interests you and they’re going to have an automatic bid into the highest form of motorsports in the U.S., I don’t love it.”

The Daytona 500 traditionally draws the largest entry list of the season. Nine open teams have announced plans to attempt to qualify for this year’s race.

In 2024, the Daytona 500 had 42 cars entered. It was the only race during the season in which there were more drivers entered than spots in the field.