Racing back to the caution
Encyclopedia
In automobile racing, specifically NASCAR
stock car racing, "racing back to the caution" is a term used to describe a procedure about what drivers did after a caution flag was displayed.
racing series when the pace car was deployed as a result of an on-track emergency such as a crash or rain. 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. Passes for position counted, and drivers running a lap down (or more) were able to un-lap themselves if they passed the leader prior to the start/finish line.
In addition, if the yellow came out on the final lap, the race would continue until the cars crossed the finish line. An example of this is the 1987 Firecracker 400, when Ken Schrader wrecked approaching the tri-oval on the final lap. If the yellow came out very near the end of the race - so late in the race that there would not be sufficient time to clean up the incident and go back to green before the race had exhausted its scheduled distance - the race would effectively end as the cars received the yellow flag at the start/finish line. The remaining laps would be run under yellow (with no passing on the track allowed). An example of this would be the 1984 Firecracker 400
.
After racing back to the caution was eliminated, the green-white-checkered
rule was implemented to help avoid a race from finishing under caution, particularly in the middle of a lap.
This especially showed during the 2003 Sylvania 300
at Loudon when Dale Jarrett
had stopped in the middle of the track while the drivers were racing back to the yellow flag. Another infamous incident took place in the 1990 ARCA
race at Daytona
, where cars racing back to the line crashed into a stationary car being attended to by rescue crews after a multi-car crash, seriously injuring a paramedic.
This facet was magnified around the same time as the aforementioned Loudon incident at the 2003
Dodge/Save Mart 300. On the 71st lap, Kevin Harvick
was leading Robby Gordon
when a caution came out for a crash at a different part of the track. Gordon kept charging, and passed Harvick in the keyhole turn, taking the lead before they crossed the start/finish line. Harvick called it a "chicken move" and Jeff Gordon
said "I could not believe it when I saw it" and called his passing under the yellow "unheard of."
The controversial pass, however, was entirely legal under NASCAR rules at the time, and Robby Gordon was assessed no penalty. The so-called "unethical breach of racing ethics" proved to be the winning edge, and Robby Gordon went on to win the race. He was subjected to considerable scrutiny and ridicule after the race. However, others considered the complaints hypocrisy or "sour grapes" by the losers.
This practice was scrutinized as well though, when it was seen to be abused. A controversy arose during the 2003
Samsung/Radio Shack 500
at Texas
. On the 169th lap, the yellow came out for a spin with Matt Kenseth
leading. Kenseth backed off in turn 4 to allow teammates Jeff Burton
and Kurt Busch
to get their laps back. Jeff Gordon
, however, sped past all three and beat them back to the start-finish line, officially taking the lead. However, instead of Gordon keeping the lead, NASCAR scored Kenseth in front, while Busch and Rudd were allowed to make up a lap. After the race, NASCAR acknowledged the error.
After racing back to the yellow was eliminated, a special exception to this practice was implemented and allowed, by the "Lucky dog
" rule.
s had passed a series of wire checkpoints around the track. In special cases, the transponder data can be supplemented with video replay (particularly for the leader/winner).
In order to not totally obliterate the possibility of regaining lost laps, they implemented the lucky dog
rule in which the highest-placed car not on the lead lap is given the opportunity to make a lap up under yellow.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
stock car racing, "racing back to the caution" is a term used to describe a procedure about what drivers did after a caution flag was displayed.
NASCAR usage
The procedure was used in NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racing series when the pace car was deployed as a result of an on-track emergency such as a crash or rain. 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. Passes for position counted, and drivers running a lap down (or more) were able to un-lap themselves if they passed the leader prior to the start/finish line.
In addition, if the yellow came out on the final lap, the race would continue until the cars crossed the finish line. An example of this is the 1987 Firecracker 400, when Ken Schrader wrecked approaching the tri-oval on the final lap. If the yellow came out very near the end of the race - so late in the race that there would not be sufficient time to clean up the incident and go back to green before the race had exhausted its scheduled distance - the race would effectively end as the cars received the yellow flag at the start/finish line. The remaining laps would be run under yellow (with no passing on the track allowed). An example of this would be the 1984 Firecracker 400
Coke Zero 400
The Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona is a 160 lap, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually, beginning in 1959, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida; the second major stock car event held at Daytona on the Sprint Cup circuit...
.
After racing back to the caution was eliminated, the green-white-checkered
Green-white-checker finish
The green-white-checker finish is a rule implemented into many levels of automobile racing in the United States. When the race would otherwise end during a yellow-flag caution condition , this rule gives the field an attempt to finish the race under a green-flag, racing condition...
rule was implemented to help avoid a race from finishing under caution, particularly in the middle of a lap.
Safety
The practice sometimes created dangerous situations in which cars would be racing near wrecked cars, with possibly injured drivers, and prevent the safety team from reaching the stricken cars quickly. Also, there were numerous situations where cars racing back to the caution nearly, or in some cases did, become part of the crash by plowing into slow or stopped cars on the track.This especially showed during the 2003 Sylvania 300
Sylvania 300
The Sylvania 300 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.The Sylvania 300 has traditionally held in mid-September, however, the race has been rescheduled once in its history...
at Loudon when Dale Jarrett
Dale Jarrett
Dale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
had stopped in the middle of the track while the drivers were racing back to the yellow flag. Another infamous incident took place in the 1990 ARCA
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
race at Daytona
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, where cars racing back to the line crashed into a stationary car being attended to by rescue crews after a multi-car crash, seriously injuring a paramedic.
Competition
In addition, many drivers felt there was an unwritten "gentleman's agreement" about not racing back to the yellow during the race. Many drivers felt that once a yellow came out, that all drivers should hold their position, and not try to take advantage of the yellow flag, especially if it was early in the race. This practice, however was never official, and the self-policing of it was very inconsistent.This facet was magnified around the same time as the aforementioned Loudon incident at the 2003
2003 in NASCAR
The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday February 8 and ended on Sunday November 16. Matt Kenseth with Roush Racing driving a Ford was crowned the Winston Cup champion, despite winning only one race all year. Chevrolet took home the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship after capturing 19 wins...
Dodge/Save Mart 300. On the 71st lap, Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
was leading Robby Gordon
Robby Gordon
Robert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
when a caution came out for a crash at a different part of the track. Gordon kept charging, and passed Harvick in the keyhole turn, taking the lead before they crossed the start/finish line. Harvick called it a "chicken move" and Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
said "I could not believe it when I saw it" and called his passing under the yellow "unheard of."
The controversial pass, however, was entirely legal under NASCAR rules at the time, and Robby Gordon was assessed no penalty. The so-called "unethical breach of racing ethics" proved to be the winning edge, and Robby Gordon went on to win the race. He was subjected to considerable scrutiny and ridicule after the race. However, others considered the complaints hypocrisy or "sour grapes" by the losers.
Lapped cars
In some cases, when the caution came out, leaders would purposely slow down, and allow lapped cars to pass them and thus get their lap back back before they crossed the start/finish line. This was a long-standing practice, and frequently was part of race strategy. Sometimes by being kind enough to let a driver get his lap back, a favor would be expected later in the race in return.This practice was scrutinized as well though, when it was seen to be abused. A controversy arose during the 2003
2003 in NASCAR
The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday February 8 and ended on Sunday November 16. Matt Kenseth with Roush Racing driving a Ford was crowned the Winston Cup champion, despite winning only one race all year. Chevrolet took home the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship after capturing 19 wins...
Samsung/Radio Shack 500
Samsung/Radio Shack 500
The Samsung Mobile 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas USA. Even though is advertised as a "500 mile" race, because TMS is a track, the actual distance is . There were 10 different winners in the first ten races, the longest such streak for...
at Texas
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
. On the 169th lap, the yellow came out for a spin with Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
leading. Kenseth backed off in turn 4 to allow teammates Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton
Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...
and Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
to get their laps back. Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
, however, sped past all three and beat them back to the start-finish line, officially taking the lead. However, instead of Gordon keeping the lead, NASCAR scored Kenseth in front, while Busch and Rudd were allowed to make up a lap. After the race, NASCAR acknowledged the error.
After racing back to the yellow was eliminated, a special exception to this practice was implemented and allowed, by the "Lucky dog
Lucky dog
The beneficiary rule, commonly referred to as the "lucky dog" or "free pass", is a rule in some motor racing leagues allowing the closest lapped driver to the front of the field to gain back a lap when a caution is called. The driver is called to move to the end of the longest line of the cars at...
" rule.
Current NASCAR rule
As a result of this, NASCAR changed their rules. Once a yellow comes out now, the field is frozen in running order immediately, and the order is determined by inspecting the order that the driver's transponderTransponder
In telecommunication, the term transponder has the following meanings:...
s had passed a series of wire checkpoints around the track. In special cases, the transponder data can be supplemented with video replay (particularly for the leader/winner).
In order to not totally obliterate the possibility of regaining lost laps, they implemented the lucky dog
Lucky dog
The beneficiary rule, commonly referred to as the "lucky dog" or "free pass", is a rule in some motor racing leagues allowing the closest lapped driver to the front of the field to gain back a lap when a caution is called. The driver is called to move to the end of the longest line of the cars at...
rule in which the highest-placed car not on the lead lap is given the opportunity to make a lap up under yellow.