NASCAR is one of the most thrilling motorsport events the world has ever witnessed. This race resonates with fast speed and cheering but is often held back by essential strategic communication. That strategic system ensures law and order on the racing track and one of the most critical parts of it is the flags.
Yes, a racing flag, which we can see waving around the corners by the flagman. Every flag conveys a particular message during a race. It influences drivers to take action while racing. Here in this article, we will explore the different types of racing flags used in NASCAR racing with their meaning and applications.
Types of flags used in NASCAR
1. Green Flag:
The Green Flag is one of the most influential flags used at any motorsport event. It has primarily 4 special purposes in a racing arena. The first is when it waves during practice and qualifying sessions. The third wave occurred during a restart of the race when an incident occurred. The fourth simplifies to start the race after the formation lap is over.
2. Yellow Flag:
The yellow flag is often used as a caution flag. It can only be waved on the track when any critical incident appears during a race. The main purpose of the flag is to convey a message to the drivers to reduce their speed and restrict overtaking, as any incident has taken place in any part of the track.
3. Black Flag:
This flag is considered one of the most terrifying flags for any NASCAR driver. A black flag is used during a race when any racer or driver has violated any rules and regulations and must come to the pits as soon as possible and adhere to the issues with the NASCAR officials. The black flag is also known as the consultation flag, as the driver and the team had to go through an investigation by the race officials.
4. Red Flag:
The red flag is waved when any horrible accident has taken place on the track and the race has to be stopped immediately. During a red flag, the cars are to be stopped on the track or are informed by the officials to be brought back to the pits. There is no specific time for how long a red flag can be used. It can also be used while cleaning the debris from the track after a follow-up crash.
Teams are prohibited from working on cars under the red flag. To resume the race, the NASCAR officials technically resume a race under a yellow flag with speed limitations. When the race coordinator clarified that the track was safe, the race started again after the green flag waved to go.
5. White Flag:
The white flag is waved during a race when there is only one lap remaining in the race session. If by any means a caution period occurred on the final lap of the race under the white flag, the NASCAR officials decided to stop the race immediately, and the last lap had to be eliminated.
6. Checkered Flag (Black & White):
The most iconic flag for any motorsport event. A checkered flag signifies the end of the race. When a black and white checkered flag is used, the driver must have to cross the finish line after the completion of the final lap of the race to score the overall points. The driver that passes the finish line at first under the checkered flag is declared the winner of that particular NASCAR race.
7. Black Flag With Crossed White Lines:
It is typically another black flag but induced with crossed white lines within it. The black flag with crossed white lines is used to indicate a driver who fails to follow the flagman’s instructions to go to the pit lane within five laps. Then this flag is displayed that represents the on-track progress of that particular NASCAR driver. Even after a reminder, if the driver breaches the racing protocols, he/she typically gets disqualified at that moment.
8. Green Checkered Flag:
This flag is used for a particular NASCAR race. NASCAR races consist of three different national race tiers that promote different stages of racing for the Cup Series. The green checkered flag is used to indicate the end of each stage of the race tiers. The points are also awarded to the top-finishing drivers at the end of each stage.
9. Blue Flag With Yellow Diagonal Stripe:
This flag is waved for a particular NASCAR driver who is driving comparatively slowly against the lead lap cars. This indicates that the driver must give some space on the track for the faster cars that are coming from behind to allow them to pass safely.
10. Solid Blue Flag (No Stripe):
This flag is used on road courses only. The solid blue flag is waved to indicate to drivers that there might be some casualties on the track that may be hard to see while racing ahead on the track. It helps them to drive safely and take immediate caution while driving through the fast lane.
11. Yellow And Red Striped Flag:
This flag is also used on road courses only as that of the solid blue flag. The yellow and red striped flag is waved to warn upcoming or fast NASCAR drivers that there is debris on the track and that they should exercise caution when approaching it during the race.
12. Red Flag With Yellow Stripe:
This is a special flag that is located at the entrance on the pit lane road. It is not waved but placed near the pit lane to indicate to the drivers that the pit lane is closed. This flag is withdrawn when the race officials indicate cars on the track to line up behind the pace cars under the yellow flag, indicating that the pits are now open to be used by drivers.
13. Red And Black Flags (Waved Together):
When the red and black flags are waved together simultaneously by the flagman, it indicates that the particular practice or qualifying session has come to an end and the drivers must return to the pit lane.
14. Two Checkered Flags (Waved Together):
This flag is often used during a NASCAR race. The flagman waves two checkered flags during a race to indicate to the drivers and their respective teams that the race has reached its halfway point.
15. Checkered Flag And Yellow Flag (Waved Together):
The checkered flag is waved along with a yellow flag simultaneously to indicate that a caution has occurred on the final lap of the race and the race will go under caution until every driver crosses the finish line.
16. Green Checkered Flag And White Flag (Waved Together):
This flag is used under extreme circumstances. The green checkered flag is waved along with a white flag when any caution occurs in the final two laps of the race. NASCAR will have a two-lap race finish with a checkered green flag to restart that race, followed by a white flag with one lap remaining and when every driver crosses the finish line, the flag signals down to indicate the completion of a thrilling race session.
All these flags play a vital role in organizing a smooth NASCAR race on the track. Every flag helps to communicate and build a strategy to keep the standards of racing in the motorsport world.