Introduction to NASCAR:
Playing Surface:
- Predominantly an oval shape, but few are not a set shape.
Types of race tracks:
- Short tracks: Laps that range from a half mile (.5) to one (1) mile long.
- Intermediate: Laps that range from a mile (1) in length or longer.
- Superspeedways: Laps that range from two miles (2) in length or longer.
- Road courses: Road courses are usually the longest laps
Race Length:
- The number of laps depends on the length of the race and the length of the track
- Races range from 300-600 miles.
Starting Positions:
- Qualifying races are held to determine the starting positions.
- Determined by three (3) metrics:
- FInishing position (50{7cfdf048d63d1634c4ebc39e44c17f1aa9d4d8c4f009b1c668289627fc77fa83})
- Points position (35{7cfdf048d63d1634c4ebc39e44c17f1aa9d4d8c4f009b1c668289627fc77fa83})
- Fastest race lap (15{7cfdf048d63d1634c4ebc39e44c17f1aa9d4d8c4f009b1c668289627fc77fa83})
Weather:
- If a race is started and rained out, it will pick up where it left off on a future determined date.
Stages:
Each race has three stages to it.
- Stage 1: Laps 1-60
- Stage 2: Laps 61-120
- Stage 3: Laps 121- End of Race
Points Scoring for Drivers:
- Points are accumulated over each of the 36 races. There is a reset for the 16 drivers in the playoffs after the regular-season finale at Daytona
Flags:
- Green – Go – clean racing
- Green & White Checkered – End of stage – This flag is waived after a stage has been completed. After the first 10 drivers of the stage cross the finish line, the caution flag is waived.
- Yellow – Caution for an accident or debris – Drivers will slow down behind the pace car and drive cautiously around the track.
- Red – Stop – Drivers will stop on a designated area of the track.
- Black – Safety Infraction – When the black flag is waved at a driver it means he/she must pit because they did something wrong or their car is not approved to be on the track.
- Black / White cross – This flag lets a driver know they did not answer their black flag and they are no longer being scored.
- Blue – Course area caution – This flag is not used on oval courses. The blue flag is used to let drivers know of stopped cars
- Blue / Diagonal yellow stripe – Passing – When the blue flag is waved it means a faster car is about to lap them and they need to yield to that car.or a partially blocked track. A driver can be black flagged for not following this.
- White – Last lap – The white flag means the race leader is on their last lap.
- Checkered – Finish – When the checkered flag is waved it means a driver has crossed the finish line and won the race.
Penalties:
- Like all other sports there are certain actions that get you in trouble and are not allowed. See some of the penalties below.
- Restart
- Stop and Go – Go back to pit and stop and go.
- Pass-through Penalty – Go back and drive through pit road at speed
- One Lap Penalty – Go to pit and wait a lap before you go
- Start at the rear – A number of different infractions pre race can cause this
- Fines – $$
- Loss of pit crew member
Playoffs:
- 16 drivers make the playoffs. Based on points and wins during the regular season.
- Elimination races then begin, where playoff drivers either move on or are eliminated. 16 to 8 to 4, each elimination round consists of three races, then the final race where only the 4 drivers left can win the championship.
