NASCAR: Winners And Losers From Sonoma
By Cole Mentzel
Loser: Debris Cautions
It’s been the subject of conversation throughout this season and seasons before: what’s the deal with all these debris cautions?
Some believe that NASCAR should be more relaxed with their yellow flags, despite the fact that debris could negatively impact a race. Some are even skeptical that NASCAR is throwing these cautions without anything on the track.
We saw more debris cautions at Sonoma. In some cases, there was actually something on the track, like the rag that appeared under the bridge early on. In other cases, drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. questioned whether or not there was anything out there.
@DaleJr “Ain’t no damn debris out here."
— Lauren Jones (@LaurenADowney) June 26, 2016
There was even the occasional conspiracy theory thrown into the mix, when Kevin Harvick wondered whether the caution was being thrown at the correct time.
.@kevinharvick on the debris “it’s a toyota sponsored race. gotta give the toyota the advantage when it’s on pit road. just like charlotte.”
— Philip Jones (@philgoodstory) June 26, 2016
Ironically enough, Tony Stewart was able to seize the lead and win the race because of a debris caution.
Whether NASCAR is throwing “phantom debris” cautions or seeing something harmful to the cars on the track, these types of cautions are going to continue being the stem of controversy for a while.
Next: Another Solid Day