In automobile racing, specifically
NASCARThe 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.
The procedure was used in
NASCARThe 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.
In automobile racing, specifically
NASCARThe 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
NASCARThe 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. Drivers were able to catch up a lap if they passed the leader.
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 300The 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 JarrettDale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver. He is the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion and the son of two-time NASCAR Grand National Champion Ned Jarrett. He is the younger brother of Glenn Jarrett, a former NASCAR driver himself and pit commentator. He is also the father of former...
had stopped in the middle of the track while the drivers were racing back to the yellow flag.
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
2003The 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 HarvickKevin Michael Harvick is an American race car driver and car owner, competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the #29 Shell Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala SS...
was leading
Robby GordonRobert W. Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, owning his #7 Toyota Camry, sponsored by Jim Beam and Menards, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series driving the #55 Toyota Camry...
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 GordonJeffery Michael Gordon is a professional American race car driver. He was born in Vallejo, California, raised in Pittsboro, Indiana, and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina...
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 scrutined as well though, when it was seen to be abused. A controversy arose during the
2003The 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 500The Samsung 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 12 different winners in the first dozen races, the longest such streak for any...
at
TexasTexas 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. The track layout is very similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway...
. On the 169th lap, the yellow came out for a spin with
Matt KensethMatthew Roy Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Matt currently drives the #17 DeWalt Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing. He is currently the defending Daytona 500 champion, having won a rain-shortened race in 2009, the first Daytona 500 win for the Roush Fenway...
leading. Kenseth backed off in turn 4 to allow teammates
Jeff BurtonJeffrey Brian Burton also sometimes referred to as "JB" is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala SS for Richard Childress Racing. He also races part-time in the Nationwide Series driving the #29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet...
and
Kurt BuschKurt Thomas Busch is a professional American race car driver. He drives the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
to get their laps back.
Jeff GordonJeffery Michael Gordon is a professional American race car driver. He was born in Vallejo, California, raised in Pittsboro, Indiana, and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, however, sped past all three 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 dogFor other uses, see Lucky dog The Lucky dog rule is a popular term for 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...
" 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
transponderIn telecommunication, the term transponder has the following meanings:...
s had passed a series of wire checkpoints around the track. In order to not totally obliterate the possibility of regaining lost laps, they implemented the
lucky dogFor other uses, see Lucky dog The Lucky dog rule is a popular term for 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...
rule in which the highest-placed car not on the lead lap is given the opportunity to make a lap up under yellow.