With the Daytona 500 just a week away, the most contentious issue in NASCAR at the moment isn’t about drafting tactics or pole speeds, but rather a contentious new rule that ensures IndyCar icon Helio Castroneves a guaranteed starting position even if he doesn’t qualify. NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has been in the forefront of the heated controversy about the Open Exemption Provisional (OEP) regulation, claiming it is nothing more than a “gimmick.” It simply seems so desperate to me. Ahead of the 2025 Cook Out Clash, Hamlin declared, “Be the big boys and force people to come in here and get their credentials and do it the natural way.” Hamlin’s annoyance is evident: Why should an outsider be assured a place in the most important race in NASCAR without earning it on track?
But NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace sees things a bit differently—and he’s not entirely disagreeing with Hamlin either.
Is Attention Needed by NASCAR? According to Kenny Wallace, this isn’t a bad thing
Although Wallace acknowledges that NASCAR’s action is desperate, he doesn’t think desperation is always a negative thing. Wallace retorted, “Go back to Denny and say it’s desperation, call it what you want.””Even if NASCAR acknowledged that we’re a little desperate at the moment, It’s a publicity stunt. It’s a marketing strategy. Wallace contends that Castroneves gives NASCAR the international recognition it needs. With more than 200 million people living in Brazil, Castroneves’ presence might draw a whole new fan base to the sport, which might increase NASCAR’s global impact. Wallace went on, “Castroneves is a superstar, and NASCAR doesn’t have many of those right now.”
Are There No Superstars in NASCAR?
Wallace also stated quite bluntly that there aren’t enough megastars in NASCAR to keep the sport going. Wallace added, “I’ve always said we don’t have any superstar NASCAR drivers.””Now, the only thing that can save NASCAR is if Chase Elliott can continue to do this.” His remarks confirm longtime fans’ worries that NASCAR has had difficulty replacing the legendary figures of the past. The retirement of Dale Earnhardt Jr. cost NASCAR millions of devoted followers.
