@nascarcasm: First-time viewer’s guide to race flags

Hello, new NASCAR viewer! We’re here to help educate you on the many different facets of our incredible sport! Today, it’s all about those flags you see – red ones, green ones, etc. What do they all mean? Read on!

This flag means “You can start driving fast now.” It is displayed at the very start of the race and on restarts. However, you are not allowed to saw “Green!” only once. You have to yell it three times, like “Green green green!” Everyone adheres to this strange unofficial rule; spotters, broadcasters, fans, you name it. Yell it three times like you’re summoning Beetlejuice.

It’s also known as the “Caution” flag, or the “Yella” flag by some of our more folksy competitors. This flag indicates that there is a hazard on track, and the cars need to slow down and line up behind the pace car. These hazards can include, but are not limited to: Crashes, debris on track, precipitation, a live animal on track, a large inflatable orange rolling around on track, a drunken imbecile scaling the catch fence and infield sprinklers suddenly activating. Usually not all at once.

The red flag means “Stop what you’re doing immediately, for the race has been halted.” This can be because of consistent rain, a large wreck that requires a lengthy cleanup, or a jet dryer that has caught fire. The cars will come to a stop, depending on the reason for the red flag. Sometimes it’s on pit road and they can exit their cars, but other times its on track, and drivers can pass the time by scrolling through Twitter or something. Generally you don’t want to see the red flag, unless the race is past halfway and you’re Justin Haley.

While a race is in progress, you might see the flagman quickly flash this flag at a few cars. This flag means “Get out of the way, lap-down, slower car – a lead-lap car is approaching.” Considering recent events in our sport, we’re lobbying to have the flag replaced with a custom Fathead of Kyle Busch’s face.

Not good. NOT good. If you’ve received the harrowing black flag, it means get yourself to the pits, because you committed some sort of infraction, or your car has been deemed too unsafe to be out on track and needs to be inspected by an official. Generally it goes like this: CREW CHIEF: “We’ve been black flagged, bring it in.” DRIVER, WITH HOOD OF CAR DETATCHED AND FLAPPING VIOLENTLY AND HOLDING ON BY A SINGLE TETHER: “WHAT THE (EXPLETIVE), IT’S FINE.”

The white flag is a symbol of surrender. But in NASCAR, it means one lap to go. Although when it’s Kyle Busch in an Xfinity Series race, it’s kind of both.

This flag means it’s a very good time to run to the restroom. It also means a stage has ended.

You probably know this one. It means the race is over, and the winner has crossed the finish line. What’s better, the driver will be given this flag and sometimes they’ll hand it to a lucky kid through the catch fence. Or, the driver will keep it because you know what, dang kid can buy one at the merchandise hauler.