Picture this: you’re in the final laps of a race, leading comfortably and on the verge of victory. Suddenly, a “late yellow” flag is waved for a situation that hardly seems to justify it. Frustration would be an understatement for any driver in that position! This was precisely the sentiment expressed by Tyler Reddick during the recent Michigan race. He wasn’t alone; the entire NASCAR community has voiced their discontent with the call. The real issue at hand isn’t just the caution itself, but the inconsistency in NASCAR’s decisions. A similar scenario unfolded at the Indianapolis race when Austin Cindric spun and crashed into the wall, yet no yellow flag was issued then.
Fans are now speculating that NASCAR might be manipulating race conditions to heighten the drama on the track. Adding fuel to the fire, NASCAR veteran Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighed in on the situation during his podcast, Dale Jr. Download, questioning the rapidity of the decision and stating, “The quickness of it (the decision) is the only concerning part.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands against NASCAR’s call
The late caution at Michigan left Tyler Reddick feeling exasperated. With a solid lead and victory within reach, Reddick’s strong performance was abruptly interrupted when Martin Truex Jr. hit the wall near the race’s conclusion. This caution wiped out Reddick’s lead and pushed the race into overtime. Many observers were puzzled by NASCAR’s choice, as the incident hardly seemed severe enough to warrant a yellow flag, and the race could have continued without interruption. Unsurprisingly, Reddick expressed his frustration with NASC
In the end, Tyler Reddick emerged victorious, pulling ahead of William Byron, who secured second place during the second overtime restart. Reddick managed to fend off both Byron and Ty Gibbs to clinch the win. The question arises: why was Reddick’s victory not more comfortable?
During the August 20 episode of Dale Jr. Download, Junior expressed his agreement with Reddick’s frustration. He remarked, “If I were in the lead, I would definitely share Reddick’s feelings, and even if I were in the top 10 or top five, I might be thinking, what’s going on here?”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. elaborated on how he would have approached the situation differently if he were in NASCAR’s position. He stated, “If I were in the booth, I would advocate for keeping the race going, saying no to the yellow flag, especially as we near the finish. My mindset would be to avoid the caution if possible.”
According to Dale Jr., this was a prime moment for NASCAR to heighten the race’s excitement, and they seized it. He continued, “I believe that for television, they might deny it, but for the promoters, track owners, and NASCAR, the thought is, ‘Absolutely, let’s create some late-race restart drama.’ With the largest audience tuning in during the final laps, they want to deliver something thrilling.”
