NASCAR is making an immediate change to its race procedures after months of criticism over lengthy caution periods. CEO Steve O’Donnell announced Thursday that a new stage break rule will debut this weekend at Iowa Speedway, with the goal of keeping races under green for longer.
The decision comes after fans repeatedly voiced frustration over consecutive caution periods late in stages that slowed the pace of races. NASCAR says the adjustment will preserve the current stage format while reducing unnecessary yellow-flag laps.
The new procedure will be implemented in all three national series throughout the rest of the 2026 season, starting with this weekend’s events at Iowa.
NASCAR Changes Stage Break Rule after Fan Feedback
In a video shared by NASCAR, O’Donnell explained that the sanctioning body had listened to fans’ concerns and decided to act immediately.
“Hey NASCAR fans, I wanted to take a moment to update you,” O’Donnell said. He pointed to a recurring issue that has affected races throughout the season, adding, “All too often [we see] long periods of caution laps.”
Under the previous format, a caution with only a few laps remaining in Stage 1 or Stage 2 often led to several laps under yellow before the scheduled stage caution caused another stoppage. The back-to-back cautions reduced the amount of green-flag racing and drew criticism from competitors and fans alike.
O’Donnell said the new procedure is designed to eliminate those unnecessary delays while keeping the stage format intact.
How NASCAR’s New Lowa Rule Will Work
Beginning this weekend, if a caution is displayed with 10 or fewer laps remaining in Stage 1 or Stage 2, that yellow will immediately count as the stage break.
The race leader will receive the green-and-white checkered flag when the field reaches the start-finish line under caution, while stage points will be awarded based on the running order at the time the caution occurred. NASCAR will continue using scoring loops and video review to determine the official finishing order for the stage.
The same caution period will also serve as the stage break, allowing teams to pit before racing resumes under green without a second caution period.
According to NASCAR, the rule will be used in all three national series for the rest of the 2026 campaign.
Steve O’Donnell Says NASCAR Will Continue Improving
O’Donnell made it clear that the change was influenced by feedback from fans throughout the season.
“I want to thank you because you helped,” he said, acknowledging the role supporters played in pushing NASCAR to make adjustments more quickly.
While optimistic about the new procedure, he admitted it may not solve every issue.
“It’s not going to be perfect,” O’Donnell said. “We’re going to learn from this and continue to innovate.”
The new rule will receive its first test during this weekend’s races at the 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway, where NASCAR hopes fans will notice fewer caution laps and more competitive racing.
Although the change does not eliminate stage racing, it addresses one of the biggest complaints about the format. By combining a late-race caution with the scheduled stage break, NASCAR expects to reduce unnecessary interruptions while keeping the strategic value of stages.
The organization believes the adjustment will lead to more green-flag action and provide a better experience for competitors and fans for the remainder of the season.
NASCAR Stage Break Rule Change Begins at Iowa Speedway After Growing Fan Backlash