Don't Black Flag My Lucky Dog! Quiz

Answer: polesitter

The polesitter starts in the front row, and thus controls the start of the race as the cars head to the green flag. Between all three top level series of NASCAR and including exhibition races, Nemechek accumulated over 29 pole starts. Nemechek was the 1993 NASCAR "Busch Grand National Series" Champion.

Answer: Black flag

The black flag is displayed when a driver or team commits an infraction during the race, whether accidental or on purpose. Refusal to answer a black flag will subsequently result in being disqualified from the race, which is represented by a black flag with a white x.

Answer: A caution that is scheduled to happen even when there is not an on track incident.

If a competiton caution is scheduled it is usually determined before the race begins. This ensures that the teams can plan for it and be ready when the caution is thrown. A completion caution may be scheduled if track conditions have changed significantly from rainy weather to clear prior to the race, this ensures that the officials can monitor the track surface for any issues that may arise. Also a competition caution is thrown during the stage break between each stage of the race.

Answer: Green, White, Checkered Finish

The official name of the NASCAR overtime period is a Green, White, Checkered Finish, which consists of a two lap shootout. If the leader is able to take the white flag the race is deemed as complete, whether or not a caution occurs before the checkered flag comes out. NASCAR has no rule for the number of Green White Checkered attempts that will be utilized during a race.

Answer: Crew Chief

The Crew Chief is essential to the success of any race team. The main duties of a Crew Chief are communication with the pit crew the spotter and the driver, as well as, NASCAR Officials if necessary. All three Crew Chiefs mentioned in the question text won at least three Cup Series Championships during their respective careers.

Answer: The car doesn't turn well and instead pushes straight up the track toward the wall

Tightness usually occurs when the car begins to lose grip as the tires have worn down. A tight car is harder to drive as it relies heavily on driver skill to compensate for the tightness, if the driver expects to continue running well. A tight car is usually a signal that it's time to pit and make an adjustment to the car.

Answer: Road Course

A road course is different from all other tracks because it contains both left and right turns, and are usually larger than circular style tracks. Road course races usually attract a variety of different drivers, who don't normally attempt to qualify for races often.

Some drivers who have had great success on the various road courses of NASCAR include, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Chase Elliott and AJ Allmendinger, just to name a few.

Answer: Driver Safety

The HANS (Head and Neck Support) device became mandatory for all three major NASCAR series on October 17, 2001. The purpose of the HANS device is to decrease the likelihood of possibly fatal injuries such as skull fractures that may occur from incidents on the race track. NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Kenny Irwin, Jr. and Adam Petty we're all killed in on track incidents within a span of eight months.

This prompted NASCAR to push for safer conditions for the drivers and the HANS device he significantly lowered the number of major injuries as a result of racing incidents since it became mandatory.

Answer: True

Sometimes the pace car is driven by an celebrity or another notable person in an "honorary" fashion prior to the start of the race. The pace car leads the field around the track at the designated caution speed which allows track cleanup crews to safely remove any debris or inoperable cars from the racing surface.

Answer: The first car in the running order that is not currently on the lead lap

Some exceptions do exist for the "lucky dog", or free pass rule. If a driver previously received a penalty at any point, they become ineligible for the free pass. Also any driver who was involved in that particular caution is not eligible for the lucky dog..