NASCAR is implementing a new yellow flag procedure to help speed up its races.
The new rule will end stages when natural caution periods happen within 10 laps of the scheduled end of the stage. If the restart occurs before the lap that is slated to start the next stage, the extra laps will be added to the next stage.
The update comes after the Brickyard 400 saw a very long yellow flag periods caused by a caution backed up against a stage break, which were exacerbated by the 2.5-mile lap and the need for an extra pace lap to allow the cars to choose lanes for the restart.
The rule will be in effect at all tracks through the end of the 2026 season for all three of the national series, starting with the upcoming weekend at Iowa Speedway.
Iowa will also feature its first race with new the Cup Series car short track package, which combines a higher horsepower engine with less downforce and weaker front bumpers meant to dissuade drivers from making hard intentional contact to move the cars in front of them.
