Kevin Harvick previously said, “I don’t like exemptions. […] I hate exemptions. […] In my opinion, waivers are completely off the mark.
And now, as Joey Logano predicted, granting Kyle Larson a waiver has opened up a bottomless pit and everyone has some issues with the whole system.” Most NASCAR officials and fans are happy that the No. 5 car has been granted an exemption, but there is debate everywhere about the parameters of which drivers are granted exemptions.
Why should not everyone qualify for a waiver after Kyle Larson got one?
The decision to give Kyle Larson an exemption to qualify for this year’s playoffs came after some controversy. NASCAR policy requires drivers to compete in every race of the season to compete for the championship, but there are exceptions, mainly due to injuries.
Kyle Busch, in particular, won the championship in 2015 while receiving an exemption after missing several races. But Bubba Wallace’s spotter said exemptions should be given to season-leading drivers who have proven their ability on the track. However, those lower in the rankings should not necessarily receive the same leniency.
Recently, Freddie Kraft spoke out on X, sparking a debate about the possibility of NASCAR changing the rules for playoff qualification. He said that by removing the rule that does not give exemptions to drivers ranked 30th or lower, NASCAR could open up the opportunity for part-time drivers to sneak into the playoffs. A motorsports journalist from Road and Track also weighed in on the discussion, saying that raising the bar to the top 20 would not make much difference.
Kraft further argued that to win the fairy tale “Cinderella” you have to finish at least in the top 25, and that even 30th would probably be a reasonable number. This seems low, but if guys like LaJoie, Burton, and Z. Smith win now they would be eliminated. To stay in the top 30, you have to run almost all the time.”
Freddie Kraft allows exemptions for high-achieving drivers, but Kevin Harvick now claims exemptions are allowed for everything.
Kevin Harvick is pushing for a shake-up in the sport’s waiver system
The former SHR driver, while supportive of the waiver granted to Kyle Larson, has been vocal about his concerns over the fairness and consistency of NASCAR’s decision-making process. Harvick acknowledged that injuries and other unexpected events can prevent a driver from racing, but he challenged the fairness of the current waiver system, especially in terms of consistent participation.
Kevin Harvick expressed, “You’re if you’re sick or injured or and you can’t get in a car to start the race it’s terrible luck it’s terrible timing it’s a terrible situation. But is it still fair to the guy that’s put in the whole body of work that’s made it to every race and been there every week with his team to be able to succeed uh by be by being there every week?”
While it makes sense that the organization prefers not to speculate on hypotheticals, Harvick argued that in exceptional cases like the Indianapolis 500, rules should be clarified in advance.
That would eliminate confusion and anxiety for teams, drivers, and fans alike, knowing the outcomes in advance. Looking forward, NASCAR might be better off doing away with waivers altogether, instead mandating that if a driver misses a regular season race, they lose 5-10 playoff points and must compete in all playoff races.
