A welcome change: No stage interruptions at road courses

[Mile501]

NASCAR announced Tuesday that stage racing at road courses will have a new look in 2023 with no caution flags interrupting the flow of competition. Additionally, the sanctioning body will enforce rules already written in the NASCAR Rule Book to officiate vehicles that employ a similar strategy to the one Ross Chastain used in his "Hail Melon" move at Martinsville Speedway by issuing a time penalty.

The removal of stage cautions at road courses comes following a review of Fan Council Data and industry discussions. Stage points will still be awarded at the stage-ending lap, but the green-checkered flag will not be displayed and there will not be a caution period to interrupt the action.

https://www.jayski.com/2023/01/31/nascar-announces-rule-changes-for-2023-season/

[Mile501]

Personally, I've never been a fan of stage breaks anywhere, though I can understand how NASCAR might feel the need to spice things up at some of the less exciting tracks on the schedule. But especially at road courses, stage breaks really messed up the flow of the race, since road courses tended to have an interesting strategy mix without artificial cautions coming into play. I definitely applaud this change.