What does caution mean in NASCAR?

The “caution flag,” signals hazardous conditions on the track, and cars must slow immediately, maintain position and yield to track safety vehicles until the green flag is displayed. During a qualification session, a qualification attempt is halted.

How do NASCAR cautions work?

When NASCAR declared a caution period, racing would not cease immediately; rather, the drivers could continue racing for position until they crossed the start-finish line and received the caution flag. In addition, if the yellow came out on the final lap, the race would continue until the cars crossed the finish line.

What happens between stages in NASCAR?

To determine stage length, NASCAR usually splits the first 60 percent of the race between the first two stages. and then runs 40 percent of the race in the final stage. The last stage is always the longest distance of the entire race, and usually involves a pitstop as well.

How long does a caution last in NASCAR?

The Truck Series will see the introduction of a “caution clock,” which will automatically halt a race if it has been under green-flag conditions for 20 consecutive minutes. NASCAR touts the caution clock as a way to inject an “added element of strategy.”

Can a NASCAR race end on a caution?

If the caution lights are illuminated and/or the yellow flag is displayed after the leader’s vehicle breaks the vertical plane of the leading edge of the Overtime Line, it will be an official attempt, and the Race will not be restarted and will conclude under caution. All additional laps will be counted and scored.

What happens during a caution?

A caution is a possible outcome of an arrest, which you may be offered instead of being charged. The police make cautions sound less serious, but they are an admission of guilt, and will still go on your record. Accepting a caution can seem appealing because it means you will not go to court for that offence.

Do caution laps count in NASCAR?

On the competition cautions at Lap 50 and 150, caution laps will not count once NASCAR sends the free pass car around. (That already was in place for the stage breaks). NASCAR also announced each team will receive an additional set of tires. That will allow teams to have six sets for the race.

What happens at the end of a stage in NASCAR?

Drivers who finish in the top 10 in Stage 1 and Stage 2 earn additional race points, with the winner of each stage earning 10 points, second place earning nine points, third place earning eight points, etc., down to one point for 10th place.

What is the reason for stages in NASCAR?

Additionally, while stage endings do cause drivers to race more aggressively during the middle portions of races, they also create opportunities for extra crashes. You see this trend happen most often on superspeedways, venues where NASCAR’s drivers don’t need any additional risk of serious wrecks.

Is a caution a criminal record?

A caution is not a criminal conviction, but it could be used as evidence of bad character if you go to court for another crime. Cautions can show on standard and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Why do cautions happen at every race in NASCAR?

Competition cautions don’t happen at every race. They only occur when it rains the night before or the day of the race. They usually will occur 20 laps into a race, although when they happen depends on the size of the track. NASCAR does this to allow teams to check how their tires wear halfway into a run. NASCAR introduced stage racing last year.

How does NASCAR stage racing work?

NASCAR stage racing will break each race into 3 segments. The leader at the end of the first two stages will be awarded bonus points. Overall, this will likely make the racing better. It will make drivers race harder. Most importantly, drivers will be forced to race harder throughout the entire event.

Are stage-ending cautions better than Phantom debris cautions in NASCAR?

Fans argue that the planned stage-ending cautions are better than phantom debris cautions, and that much is true. But (a) there are still questionable caution flags thrown at times, and that will never change, and (b) stage-ending cautions still create artificial racing that doesn’t belong in NASCAR, or anywhere for that matter.

Why did NASCAR change the format for races in May and June?

In addition, because some of the mid-week Cup races stuffed into the schedule are shorter in distance than originally planned, NASCAR has released modified stage lengths for the confirmed races in May and June. Below is all you need to know about the format changes for NASCAR races as the sport navigates an unprecedented challenge.