The essential guide to NASCAR race flags

NASCAR flags explained

Something critical to all NASCAR-sanctioned races are the 12 different flags used to guide competitors.

Here is each flag and what they mean.

Green flag

Green flags start a race, resume a race and are what continues racing under normal conditions. If you see this flag, it means competitors are racing at the highest speeds possible on the racetrack.

Yellow

The race is under a caution period if you see this. This flag is displayed when there is a hazard on the track, like crashed cars or debris, or the end of a stage. A pace car will lead the field at a controlled speed under these conditions.

Red

The race is stopped. Reasons could be for inclement weather or for excessive debris that needs to be cleaned up. NASCAR could instruct the competitors to either park where they are at on track or bring the field to pit road.

Red with Yellow Stripe

This flag means pit road is closed. A flagman at the entrance of pit road may display this during the beginning of a caution period or with two laps to go in an early stage of a race. Once the field has caught up to the pace car under the caution period, NASCAR can pull back the flag and reopen pit road.

Green-and-White Checkered

The race stage (Stage 1 and Stage 2; Stage 3 in the Coca-Cola 600) has ended and once the Top-10 finishers in the stage cross the line, the yellow flag is displayed.

White

One more lap in the race. If a caution happens on the final lap, a yellow flag will also be displayed and the running order of the field is frozen.

Black-and-White Checkered

This flag marks the end of the race.

Black

This flag indicates a driver has received an infraction and must serve a penalty. Reasons can include an on track offense or a vehicle that is not maintaining minimum speed. To resolve, a driver typically has to serve a pass-through pit road penalty or stop in their pit box. 

Black with Crossed White Lines

If a driver does not obey a black flag and come down pit road to serve their penalty, they will see this one, meaning their laps will no longer be scored.

Blue with Yellow Diagonal Stripe

This flag is used to let a slower driver or slower pack of drivers know that the leader, front runners, or pack of lead-lap racers are approaching and to either be courteous or move over.

Solid Blue

This flag, used at road course events (left-and-right turn racetracks), let’s racers know of a possible hazard ahead like a single-car spin, but the race is still under green flag conditions.

Yellow and Vertical Red Stripe

This flag, also used on road courses, lets competitors know debris is on the racetrack.

Red and Black

When these two flags fly simultaneously, this means a qualifying or practice session has ended. 

NASCAR Overtime

NASCAR has every intention to end a race under green flag conditions. If a yellow flag is displayed in the closing laps of the originally-scheduled distance, NASCAR may extended the race to allow a two-lap dash to the finish.

Previously called Green-White-Checkered finishes, NASCAR can throw another yellow flag if the leader does not cross the Start/Finish Line before taking the white flag and extend the race to another attempt. Once the leader takes the white flag, if a caution flag is displayed, the running order of the field is frozen.

Currently, NASCAR allows unlimited overtime attempts.