NASCAR has simplified its overtime procedures after the introduction of an "overtime line" on the backstretch in 2016 resulted in controversial calls over the past 17 months, leaving fans disappointed with NASCAR's rules designed to try to finish races under green-flag conditions.
NASCAR will immediately return to its more traditional green-white-checkered rule, in which if a caution forced the race to go beyond the scheduled distance, it required a two-lap dash to the finish in which the leader had to complete at least one lap under green, and then, if there were a caution, the race would not be resumed. The only difference now is that NASCAR will make an unlimited number of overtime attempts to finish the race under green, as opposed to three under the pre-2016 rule.
The overtime line was instituted in part because of the brutal crashes at Talladega and Daytona that typically happen when cars are bunched together. Austin Dillon flew into the catch fence at Daytona in July 2015 at the end of a green-white-checkered finish. NASCAR then decided that it would limit the number of green-white-checkered attempts to one at Talladega in that season's final restrictor-plate race. Having just one attempt didn't work out well, as Kevin Harvick tried to limp his sputtering car to the finish, causing a wreck on that restart, and the race was over.
Although some of the issues won't be fixed with the change -- NASCAR has come under criticism for waiting for drivers to pass the overtime line before throwing the caution on the first lap of overtime -- the change does clear up any questions of the location of the line. A race at Dover in June was ended because cars had passed the overtime line, which was clearly painted on the track but not visible to television viewers because of the camera angle. Track operators also questioned having that line on a spot on the backstretch where often there are no grandstands.
NASCAR technically isn't changing its overtime rule; it's just moving the location of the overtime line to the start-finish line. It could still use its overtime line at a different spot at select tracks, such as Talladega or Daytona.
"NASCAR has been looking at the overtime procedure for quite some time," NASCAR Executive Vice President Steve O'Donnell said. "After many discussions with key figures throughout the industry, we recognize that having the start-finish line serve as the standard overtime line position will benefit the race -- and, most importantly, our fans."
The overtime line initially was something that NASCAR determined with help from its drivers council. Former council member Dale Earnhardt Jr. applauded the decision.
👍🏼 Good move. Other idea didn't pan out. I'll take any amount of responsibility for it. https://t.co/m9MJZpQJ0d
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) August 2, 2017
"Driver council came up with the overtime line," Earnhardt said in another tweet. "I was in heavy favor of it, at Daytona and Dega in particular. It failed as a solution."