Beyond the Flag
Fansided

NASCAR’s Overtime Line Drama Grows

By Alex Herbst

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 01: Brandon Jones, driver of the #33 Rain-X/Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet, drives on pit road after an on-track incident during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 1, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 01: Brandon Jones, driver of the #33 Rain-X/Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet, drives on pit road after an on-track incident during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 1, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

NASCAR has long wrestled with the issue of how to finish a race in the best way for the fans. The overtime line is their latest attempt, and it is failing spectacularly.

More from NASCAR

The most difficult aspect of a race for NASCAR to get right is the finish. Over the years, series officials have squabbled over how to give the fans the most bang for their buck in the closing laps. Finishing the race under the caution flag seemed too boring, so the green-white-checkered rule was invented. And when that didn’t seem to be doing enough, it was extended from one attempt to three.

Now, in 2017, their efforts to create an exciting finish have landed on the overtime line, a rule that many NASCAR fans now question openly and honestly. The rule states that should a race go beyond its allotted distance, there will be unlimited attempts to finish under green unless the leader passes an arbitrary line located on the track after the restart. While interesting in theory, a number of holes have already been poked into this latest fabrication.

The location of the line at each track seems to be one of the largest sticking points with fans, considering that it seems to be different no matter where you go. While at Daytona, for example, the line is located near the middle of the backstretch, at other tracks it may be at the entrance to turn 3 or off the exit of turn 2. While these differences may seem trivial, it is inconsistent for sure, and an inconsistency that makes NASCAR look like they are trying to manufacture their finishes.

Then came the drama at Daytona in the Xfinity Series. The Firecracker 250, won by William Byron, was in overtime when a crash occurred as the field approached and crossed the overtime line. It was in NASCAR’s judgment that the field crossed the line before the caution flag was waved, making the race over. But that did not stop others from jumping on the officials about the line and their decision.

The largest argument came from those that believed that the overtime line rule is just a watered down version of the green-white-checkered finishes. It essentially took a step backward from where the rule was before. And while it can be seen as self-serving that NASCAR wanted to stop the Xfinity Series race before it cut into pre-race festivities for the Cup Series race, in the end, it was a judgment call, one that cannot be eliminated from the sport.

No matter what rule is in place, judgment calls will always be present. When to throw the caution and when to say a race is over when the field can’t make it back to checkered flag are the ball and strike calls of stock car racing. Certainly, some fans will not accept this, demanding the return of the old “racing back to the caution” rule, which will never happen again as long as safety is a top priority. But is it entirely possible that the green-white-checkered rule of three attempts to finish the race the right way was the best way.

Next: Should NASCAR Do More Same-Day Doubleheaders?

What do you think of the overtime line rule? Should NASCAR ditch the rule after 2017 and go back to the green-white-checkered idea, or come up with a new plan on how to finish a race with a late yellow? Leave your thoughts below in the comments section, or tweet them to us.

Home/NASCAR