NASCAR Rules 101- Understanding Flags in the NASCAR Rules Handbook

Do you ever wonder why millions of sports fans around the country still don't watch NASCAR, hockey, golf, or soccer? Well, a lot of it has to do with not understanding every facet of the sport. NASCAR rules are by far the hardest to understand for most people because if you don't know much about cars it's almost over your head.

Hey, I'm the first to raise my hand in this category! Give me a gas pump, an oil filter, a spare tire along with a couple other things and that's about all I can do for you. Why? Honestly, I was never really in to cars all that much, parents weren't really into them, and none of my friends were either. However, as I get older I seem to find it all a lot more fascinating them ever before. So, in light of it all I started watching NASCAR more frequently and trying to understand all the NASCAR rules.

Then there was this instant epiphany (you know the light bulb lighting up above my head thing), "Why don't I share what I've learned about NASCAR rules with you?" So, here we are and I probably know what you're thinking. "Nascar rules? I don't even like NASCAR." Okay, well maybe if you feel a little smarter about the sport then you'll like it a little more and decide to keep up with it. We will see won't we? This will be a little 101 course for the newbies out there.

The Green Flag- Okay the first of the NASCAR rules is the green flag. You probably already know this one unless you've been hiding in caves for the last eighty years. Green means go.

The Yellow Flag- Another genius part of the NASCAR rules is the yellow flag. As time goes on you find the "caution" or yellow flag come out more and more. This can be due to accidents, debris or spills on the track, or a streaker running across the racetrack (okay, you don't see that in NASCAR like other sports but it would be funny as long as they didn't get hurt). Weather conditions can also bring out the yellow flag.

The Red Flag- If there is a major accident with debris everywhere or maybe an instant rainfall the red flag shows it's face in the NASCAR rules. You won't see it very often, but when you do it's time to change the channel and come back later.

The Black Flag- Remember when your parents used to call out your full name? That usually meant you were in trouble right? Well, same thing applies here according to the NASCAR rules. A black flag simply means the driver, pit crew, or employees of the team did something wrong. When this happens the NASCAR driver has to come to the pits for a penalty or as the NASCAR rules present it, a consultation.

The Black Flag With A Huge White "X"- In the NASCAR rules handbook it says if you receive a black flag you must hit the pits within 5 laps. Those who ignore this request are hit with the black flag with a huge white X attached. Once this happens the NASCAR driver in fault does not receive any points and is considered disqualified until they fulfill the requirement of pitting.

The Blue Flag With A Yellow Or Orange Diagonal Stripe- Well, being color blind I wasn't sure which color it was and after doing a little research it seems no one else does either. Whatever the true color is it's the only flag that represents this diagonal stripe according to the NASCAR rules. This comes out occasionally to warn drivers that they have the leaders right behind them, SO MOVE OVER! Interestingly enough this is displayed on top of the starter's stand so it's not very viewable. The second half of the race usually dawns this flag, but not so much on television.

The Red Flag With A Yellow X- This is one of the interesting NASCAR rules with flags. I've never seen it before most likely because it's for the pit road. When a yellow comes out, this flag represents the pit road being closed until everyone forms a line behind the pace car. Once this happens the pits open up again for the NASCAR drivers. It's shown at the entrance.

The Red And Yellow Vertical Striped Flag- Every once in a great moon the NASCAR drivers head off to road courses I believe twice a year. This flag is only used there and the NASCAR rules say it's for NASCAR drivers to know there is debris on the track up ahead.

The Blue Flag- Never seen one of these either until I was checking out the NASCAR rules. The blue flag is only used on road courses as well. It means there is debris on the track as well, but to give proper safety precautions because workers are inspecting it on the road course. Don't think I want that job.

The White Flag- This just means there is one lap left in the race.

The Checkered Flag- Guess what, the race is over and so is this little NASCAR rules tutorial about flags.

Well, I hope you learned something about NASCAR rules in the short time it took you to read this article. Will it make you want to watch NASCAR anymore then you already do? Probably not, but hey the next time you're in the middle of an unexpected NASCAR conversation you can test a die hard fan's knowledge. It will make you look SUPER SMART about understanding flags and their NASCAR rules.