NASCAR
NASCAR Expediting Stage Cautions Beginning This Weekend at Iowa Speedway
After extensive review during the off week, NASCAR has announced sweeping changes to how some cautions will be handled. These new rules are effective immediately in all three National Series starting with Iowa Speedway’s event this weekend.
New race guidelines are as follows:
- If a caution occurs with 10 or fewer laps left in Stage 1 or Stage 2, the stage will be deemed official and prematurely end at the time of caution. The leader will drive back to the start/finish line to get the green and checkered flag along with the yellow flag. The ensuing normal caution process will be the stage break.
- The top 10 drivers in stage finishing order will be determined using all available resources, just as it is whenever points are paid.
This issue raised its ugly head in the most recent Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway two weeks ago. With five laps left in Stage 1 of the Brickyard 400, Kyle Larson cut a tire and spun. This led to a caution late in the opening stage, but racing did resume with a one-lap dash before the green and checkered flag. The immediate stage caution then added onto an already-prolonged period of yellow flag laps. In the end, nearly 30 minutes of time passed with only one green flag lap.
There’s trouble in Turn 3!@KyleLarsonRacin spins and gets into the wall. pic.twitter.com/sO5CSfXqfO
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 26, 2026
NASCAR’s Racing Communications Managing Director Mike Forde gave more context to this change on this week’s ‘Hauler Talk’ podcast. The full episode can be found here. NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell also addressed this new rule below.
You want more action. We’re here to deliver.
NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell shares an update to stage break procedures starting at @iowaspeedway. pic.twitter.com/cNmpyfKhjC
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 6, 2026
This caution flag procedure rule change will begin to be used at Iowa Speedway for this weekend’s O’Reilly and Cup Series races. Forde did mention there may be further tweaks to this change over the offseason.
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter/X
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter/X
Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images
