NASCAR ready to go green-white-checkered

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A "green-white-checkered" finish format will be used for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series beginning with next weekend's races at New Hampshire International Speedway, NASCAR officials announced Thursday.

"The green-white-checkered format is an attempt to achieve everyone's goals -- a green-flag finish," NASCAR President Mike Helton said. "This change hopefully will provide competitive finishes in the relatively rare occasions it is warranted. This format has been successful in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and considering the tight competition week in and week out in the other two national series, we feel the time is right to use the same procedure in all three national series."

The new procedure will consist of a restart of two laps – green flag for the first lap of the restart and the white flag signaling the final lap leading to the checkered flag. All additional laps will be counted and scored.

The new format will not guarantee a green-flag finish. Only one restart under the "green-white-checkered" format will be attempted. If a caution comes out during that period, the race will be complete.

This procedure will eliminate the need for a red flag in the final laps to immediately stop the race in an attempt to finish under green-flag conditions.

The announcement expands the single attempt "green-white-checkered" format to all three of NASCAR's national series, beginning next week.