Starting this weekend, new rules are in place for stage breaks
Cautions have been a hot topic. Here’s a fix.
The number of caution laps have been a point of discussion in recent months. And now, in the middle of the season, NASCAR has made an adjustment to the rulebook.
In the past, it was often for a caution flag to fly toward the end of a stage. Previously in this case, NASCAR would drop the green flag and the cars would race for only a few more laps to complete the stage. Then they would throw the official race break caution at the end of the stage.
This resulted in two caution periods, very close together. It was a lot of yellow flag laps with only a few green flag laps.
NASCAR has just changed this for all remaining races this season.
Starting this weekend at Iowa Speedway. If a caution comes out with 10 or less laps to go in stage one or stage two, then that will be the end of the stage.
This new rule applies to all three national series. That includes the NASCAR Cup Series, O’Reilly Series and Truck Series.
If a caution comes out with ten laps remaining in stage one. The next time the leader crosses the line will end the stage. Those remaining laps will now be added to the second stage. And the same would apply to a shortened stage two with laps added to stage three.
This is a fantastic change.
NASCAR verbiage of the rule change
The updated procedure for the remainder of the season is as follows:
“If a caution falls within 10 or fewer laps prior to the advertised end of Stage 1 or Stage 2, the stage will be deemed official at the time of caution. The leader will return to the start finish line to receive the green and checkered flag along with the yellow. The caution process that follows will serve as the stage break.”
“The top 10 stage finishing order will be determined using all available resources, just as it is whenever points are paid.”
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