FLIPPING THE STAGE AND STAGE RACING EXPLAINED

Shane Van Gisbergen Sonoma 2025 - FLIPPING BOTH STAGES and getting 2nd place stage points in Stage 1, AND Winning Stage 2. Explained below:

STAGE RACING - Traditionally most races only pause or slow the race for cautions caused by wrecks, debris or weather. Starting in 2017 NASCAR changed the format to where most races are divided into 3 stages, this adds planned cautions at the end of stage 1 and 2.

STAGE POINTS - The winner of each stage earns one playoff point and 10 regular season points. Second receives 9 points, 3rd gets 8 all the way to P10 getting 1 regular season point. Winning the race pays 40 regular season points and 5 playoff points. This system encourages aggressive racing throughout the entire event, not just at the end.

STAGE BREAK / CAUTION - Occurs at the end of Stage 1, 2 and sometimes stage 3 at the Coke 600 at Charlotte. This creates a strategic crossroad for teams: Should they prioritize earning immediate stage points, or focus on track position to get the win.

FLIPPING THE STAGE - The tactic where the 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 upcoming caution. There can be an exception to this at road courses. A great example is the 2025 Sonoma race where Shane Van Gisbergen flipped the stage at the end of stage 1 and 2. Both times he was far enough ahead of the field, after he made his pit stop under green, he re-entered the field in 2nd place in stage 1 and overtook Kyle Larson to win stage 2.

GREEN WHITE CHECKERED FLAG - When the stage concludes, and the mandatory caution appears and the green white checkered 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. This flag is different than the black and white checkerd flag waved at the end of the race.

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 winning stage points.

BEST YARD SIGN STAKE EVER