There are
eight different flags that NASCAR officials use from the
flag stand to control the race. Many are known but some are
a bit obscure and require more explanation. Below are the
flags used or that can be used during a race:
The four most common
ones are:
Green
Flag
A. Start of the race.
B. When the initial green flag is
given by the starter at the start of the
race, cars must hold position as designated by
track officials
until they have passed the flag stand. The
front row cars must be
even when the green flag waves. If either
front row car does not
attempt to be even, the green flag will not be
thrown and penalties
will be assessed according to the start/restart
rule procedures.
C.
In order for a car to be considered to have
officially started the race,
the car must have taken the initial green flag.
Those cars not taking
the initial green flag will not be allowed to
enter the race.
D. Hot laps are not considered
initial green flag laps. If a racing
incident occurs during hot laps that prevents a
car to take the initial
green, they will be scored in last position at the
discretion of the
officials. |
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Yellow
A. The pace vehicle will come out
ahead of the lead car to set the pace.
B. All accidents and debris will be
cleared under caution or red flag.
C. Hot laps, blowing off speedi-dri
and pace laps are considered
caution laps and will not be counted. If a
car spins or pulls out of
line during the caution laps and does not go to
the pits, the car shall
get its position back.
D. When the caution flag is thrown and
all the cars have passed the
scene of the accident, cars will be lined up
according to the last
completed lap except for:
1. Cars that speedway officials are
considered to be involved in the
accident.
2. Cars that brought out the caution.
3. All cars returning from the pits
for repair. In which case those
cars will be put in the rear and will be lined up
in the order that
they return.
4. All cars will be held in the pits
until the line up is complete.
5. In case of a caution on the first
lap cars will be lined up according
to the original starting line up, excluding cars
that brought out the
caution.
6. If you spin in someone else’s
fluid or spin to avoid the accident
you will not be considered part of the accident
and you will get
your position back that you were running on the
last completed
lap, unless you go to the pits for repairs. |
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Checkered
A. When the leader crosses the Start/Finish
line the event is officially
over. Cars will be recorded on their position
as they cross the
Start/Finish line.
B. If the caution comes out after the leader
crosses the line under the
checkered flag, any cars that have not crossed
the line at that point
will be scored according to their last lap
position with exception of
the cars involved in the caution. The
cars involved with the caution
will be scored behind the lead lap cars if on the
lead lap. |
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Red
A. The race must be stopped
immediately regardless of the position of
the cars on the track or on pit road.
B. No cars
will proceed to the starting line or pit area
until the caution
light comes on or unless instructed to by safety
or track officials.
C. If a
competitor is in an uncomfortable position on the
track they must
get the safety or track officials permission to
move.
D. When the caution
light comes on the cars shall be driven slowly to
the
starting line and shall take up the position that
they were running on he
last completed lap. At this time cars may proceed
to the pits if
necessary.
E. Any car
failing to slow immediately or moving while the
red is still out
may be disqualified from the event.
F. Any car
that is already in the pits may resume work on the
car during the
red flag.
G. No car
will be allowed to go to the pits to work on their
car until all
cars have the opportunity to do so. If
instructed to move during the red
flag the car must stop at the pit road and wait
for the yellow in order to
resume to the pits. |
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Black
A. Consultation flag. Go to the pits
immediately and report to the track
official in the pits.
B. The black flag
does not necessarily mean automatic
disqualification.
C. Failure to
comply will result in the caution to come out and
you will
be sent to the pits for the night. There is
no 3 lap rule, you must
comply immediately as safety permits. |
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Blue
Flag w/ Orange Diagonal Stripe
A. Signifies that faster traffic is
overtaking the cars that are being signaled
and those cars being overtaken shall move to the
inside of the track and
maintain running along the inside white line until
clear of lead lap cars. |
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Orange
A. Signifies a warning to a
driver that his or her action on the track is
unacceptable and they need to abide by the rules
of conduct on the track
immediately or be subject to further disciplinary
action.
B. If a
driver receives this flag more than twice in one
event, the third time
will be the black flag. |
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