New NASCAR Caution Rule Gets Us Closer to Traditional Racing
Steve O’Donnell makes another change that brings us closer to the good old days.
The NASCAR Cup Series schedule is grueling. With 36 points-paying events – plus a handful of exhibition races sprinkled throughout – it represents one of the longest seasons in all of professional sports. Last week was a rare off week. Even though there was no NASCAR Cup Series race last weekend, there’s still plenty to talk about thanks to a recent rule change.
When Steve O’Donnell took over as CEO of NASCAR, there was a fair amount of cautious optimism among the industry and fans alike. After three quarters of a century under the control of the France family, O’Donnell is one of the most powerful “outsiders” to ever have a say in the day-to-day operations of the sport we all know and love.
O’Donnell didn’t come out of left field, however. He’s worked in the sport for three decades, paying his dues and climbing through the ranks, proving his mettle at each and every step. One thing we like about O’Donnell is that, while he clearly listens to the fans and teams alike, he’s not afraid to make a decision on his own without running everything through a committee.
The most recent rule change is a great example. In the wake of the Brickyard 400, fans were, once again, complaining about the length of caution periods – especially in conjunction with stage breaks which are contentious on their own to traditionalists. So, O’Donnell changed it, just like that. Yeah, it’s that easy, apparently.
In a brief video uploaded by the official NASCAR account on X this week, O’Donnell explains that, going forward, if a caution happens within ten laps of a stage break, that will count as the stage break – no more back-to-back cautions.
Could this be a step towards eliminating stage racing altogether? It’s entirely possible. Many believe that the shift back to the “original” playoff format will serve as a transition back to a full-season points format. O’Donnell, thus far, has worked hard to balance change with tradition. While he’s shown that he’s not afraid to roll his sleeves up and make tough choices, he also rarely makes radical decisions about the sport and how it’s run.
Photo: NASCAR