NASCAR issued a rule book bulletin on Monday morning that allows them to limit the entries for a NASCAR Cup Series race to 40 teams.
Rule 5.1.F. – NASCAR, at its sole discretion, may elect to limit the number of entries for a race to 40. In such instances, Open Teams will be determined based on the Team Owner Points standings.
The bulletin also states:
Rule 7.9.1.1.B.- Four Open Teams will be eligible for starting grid positions based on the fastest single lap speed posted to each Open Team’s vehicle in the first Qualifying round.
Rule 7.9.1.1.C. – Up to six Open Teams will be eligible for starting grid positions based on the highest ranked Team Owner Points standings.
These changes would help prevent 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports from missing a race while they are operating as Open teams and the lawsuit remains unsettled. If the teams don’t miss a race, it would be more difficult to argue that they have been irreparably harmed by losing their charter.