Section 5: Rules of Play
5.1 Race Entry and Qualifying
Teams must submit an official entry form by the NASCAR-established deadline for each event. The field for Cup Series events is 40 cars. Chartered teams (up to 36) are guaranteed entry. The remaining positions (typically four) are filled through qualifying time trials or NASCAR's selection criteria for open (non-chartered) teams. When qualifying is held, the fastest car earns the pole position. Starting positions for non-qualifying sessions may be determined by owner points or other criteria as published in the event entry information.
5.2 Race Start Procedure
Events begin with pace laps under the pace car, during which drivers warm up tires and receive final instructions. The field takes the green flag when NASCAR Race Control deems conditions safe. The pace car exits the racing surface before the green flag is displayed. False starts (breaking formation before the green flag) are subject to penalty. The official start of the race is when the green flag is displayed at the start/finish line.
5.3 Stage Racing
Introduced for the 2017 season, NASCAR Cup Series races are divided into three stages. The first two stages end at pre-determined lap counts (published in the event entry information for each race), followed by the final stage which ends at the scheduled race distance. At the conclusion of each of the first two stages, a caution period is declared. The top 10 finishers at the end of each stage earn stage championship points (10 points for first place, 9 for second, ..., 1 for tenth). Stage winners also earn 1 playoff point. The race winner earns 5 playoff points in addition to the automatic playoff berth that a race win provides.
5.4 Caution Periods
NASCAR Race Control may display the yellow flag (caution) at any time due to an on-track incident, debris, inclement weather, or other hazardous conditions. Upon display of the caution:
- All cars must reduce speed and maintain their running order. No passing is permitted except to avoid an accident.
- The pace car enters the racing surface and leads the field.
- The free pass (Lucky Dog) is awarded to the first car one lap down at the time the caution is declared, moving that car to the tail of the lead lap. Only one free pass is awarded per caution period.
- Wave-arounds may be offered to other lapped cars at NASCAR's discretion in specific circumstances.
- Cars may pit during the caution period. Pit road opens when NASCAR Race Control announces "pit road is open."
- The lap count does not advance during caution periods (laps run under caution count toward the race distance, but laps are not scored while the pace car is leading).
5.5 Restarts
Restarts following caution periods use a double-file restart format. Lead-lap cars line up in the inside lane in running order; lapped cars line up in the outside lane behind the lead-lap cars. The leader controls the restart and may accelerate at any point within the designated restart zone. Outside-lane cars may not pass inside-lane cars until the leader reaches the start/finish line (or the designated restart line). The green flag is displayed at the start/finish line when the restart occurs. Any car that jumps the restart (accelerates before the restart zone) may be penalized.
5.6 Overtime (Green-White-Checkered)
If a caution is displayed within the final two laps of a stage or the final two laps of the race, NASCAR will attempt to complete the event under green-flag conditions using the Green-White-Checkered (GWC) overtime procedure. A maximum of three (3) overtime attempts are permitted. If the race cannot be completed under green-flag conditions after three overtime attempts, the event is declared official at the last completed green-flag lap, and finishing positions are determined accordingly. If the race distance has been completed but a caution comes out during the final two laps, the race ends under the yellow flag and positions at the time of the caution (or at the last completed green lap) are used to determine the finishing order.
5.7 Pit Road Procedures
Cars must enter and exit pit road in the designated entry and exit lanes. The following rules apply on pit road:
- Cars must maintain pit road speed from entry to exit cone/marker.
- Cars must stop within their assigned pit stall boundaries.
- No more than five crew members may be over the pit wall at any time.
- Fueling may only be performed when the jackman has raised the car (or as otherwise permitted by NASCAR procedure for the specific event).
- Tires that are removed from the car must be retained in the pit stall until the car has exited pit road.
- Cars may not be serviced while in motion on pit road (except for the fueler inserting/removing the fuel can while the car is briefly stationary).
- Unsafe release (releasing a car from the pit stall in a manner that creates a hazard for other cars or crew members on pit road) is a violation subject to penalty.
5.8 Race Ending Procedures
The checkered flag is displayed at the start/finish line as the race leader crosses to complete the scheduled race distance (or the final overtime lap). All other cars receive the checkered flag as they cross the line. Positions are determined by the transponder scoring data at the time of race completion. In the event of a tie (two cars deemed to have crossed simultaneously), the higher starting position car is awarded the better finish.
5.9 Race Suspension and Postponement
NASCAR Race Control may suspend a race at any time due to inclement weather, track conditions, or other safety concerns. A race is considered official after the completion of 50% of the scheduled race distance under green-flag conditions. If a race is suspended before 50% completion and cannot be resumed, it may be rescheduled. If suspended after 50% completion, the race may be declared official with the last completed green-flag lap serving as the finishing order.