FLIPPING THE STAGE AND STAGE RACING EXPLAINED

STAGE RACING - Starting in 2017, most events are divided into stages, typically two, followed by a final segment. At the conclusion of Stage 1 and 2, the top 10 drivers earn championship points, and a mandatory caution period occurs.

This caution creates a strategic crossroads for teams: should they prioritize earning immediate stage points, or focus on track position to get the win.

FLIPPING THE STAGE - A tactic where a team will make its routine pit stop a few laps before the current stage officially ends. This happens under green-flag conditions. While the car temporarily falls to the rear of the lead lap during this early stop, the strategy plays out during the subsequent caution.

GREEN WHITE CHECKERD FLAG - When the stage concludes, and the mandatory caution appears and the green white checkerd flag is waved, all the other leading teams then head to pit road for their service. Because the 'flipping' team has already completed their stop, they cycle out ahead of many cars that were previously leading or in the top 10. They've effectively 'flipped' their relative track position.

RACE STRATEGY - Teams choose to filp the stage because track position is paramount in NASCAR. Being at the front means running in 'clean air,' optimizing aerodynamics for more speed, better handling and a better chance of winning the race versus the stages.

STAGE POINTS - Teams who choose to "flip the stage" do not earn stage or playoff points. The top 10 finishers in each stage earn points from 10 points for first down to 1 point for tenth. The winner of each stage also receives one playoff bonus point, which carries over into the postseason playoffs.

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