In the past NASCAR had driver race to the finish line when the yellow flag came out.  Because of this all races ended under competition situations.  Richard Petty's 200th win was a race to the yellow flag.

     For safety reasons, NASCAR changed the rule so that when the caution flag is displayed, all cars are frozen in their respective positions. This obviously is safer then racing back to the start finish line when a disabled car could be in the path of the competitors. Another change from the past is a rule that the first car 1 lap down would be put back on the lead lap.  This was done because, in the past cars one lap down would pass the leader before he got to the start finish line, and be able to make up their lap.

    The problem with these rules is two fold.  First off these rules allow too many cars able to stay on the lead lap, and races now often finish under caution.  The fans do not want to pay 100 dollars or more to sit for 4 hours and watch cars finish at 55 mph behind a pace car.

    NASCAR has decided to do the following.  If the race has a late caution that would cause a finish that is not a racing situation, the race will be restarted for a green white checkered flag finish. To me this is way more dangerous then the rules that were originally changed in the name of safety.  When you turn 25 to 30 cars lose after gathering them all up bumper to bumper for a 2 lap dash for cash, there are certainly going to be some crashes.  In the cartoon there is a wrecker on the checkered flag symbolizing the "Checkers or Wreckers" theme.

  Just click here to return to the cartoon,  Hope you enjoyed it!    .....CB