The Daytona 500 weekend has been very enjoyable with three entertaining races between ARCA, Vans, and the O’Reilly Sequence. Because the season is again, we discover many takeaways and see the adjustments remodeled the offseason. One factor that has actually stood out is the warning flag. By way of a number of races, seems to be holding again and letting them race when deemed protected to take action.
Followers have had a difficulty with the warning coverage in recent times. It’s arduous to argue towards the white flag calls, however it’s simple to argue about after they select to wave the flag. Typically, it’s finished prematurely, and so they crown a winner primarily based on one singular second somewhat than the ultimate flip or two that might have been made safely sufficient.
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By way of Saturday, NASCAR has been seen as conservative in its flag-waving calls. Granted, it’s a lot simpler to carry the yellow at a 2.5-mile Daytona monitor, however it’s good to see them let the drivers race. We are going to see if this stays on the Daytona 500 on Sunday.
NASCAR Holds the Yellow at Daytona
Feb 13, 2026; Daytona Seaside, Florida, USA; NASCAR Truck Sequence driver Chandler Smith (38) celebrates after successful the Recent from Florida 250 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures© Mark J&interval; Rebilas-Imagn Pictures
(© Mark J&interval; Rebilas-Imagn Pictures)
Probably the most noteworthy takeaway is from Friday’s Truck Sequence race. Approaching the yellow flag, Michael McDowell slid out and picked up one different automotive close to the pit lane. Fortunately, there was no particles as they might restart and trip off. Prior to now, the yellow would have come out, and fairly presumably on the worst doable time, as they take the white.
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On this race, the officers allow them to go. By the point they reached the backstretch, the wreckage was clear, and the monitor was clear. NASCAR performed it patiently, the leaders bought round, and Chandler Smith edged out the competitors in a near-photo end.
Ought to this have been officiated up to now, Kaden Honeycutt could be the winner in his No. 11 Truck debut for TRICON Storage. As a substitute, we went round yet one more time. John Hunter Nemechek would struggle with Gio Ruggiero within the tri-oval, thus permitting Chandler Smith to dive down low and steal it. Credit score to NASCAR for letting the blokes go.
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As we return to EchoPark Speedway subsequent week, followers hope to not see a repeat of the controversial 2025 end. Moderately, they hope to see a NASCAR job of this previous Friday.
Within the a yr in the past, Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson battled facet by facet below the white flag; Carson Hocevar would accumulate different automobiles, and the yellow flag would flash. In a race that might have let the leaders chase the checkered residence free, NASCAR went with the yellow. To followers’ dismay, Bell would edge out Larson at the moment. Very effectively, Larson would have received that race if that they had not referred to as it.
This story was initially printed by on Feb 15, 2026, the place it first appeared within the part. Add Athlon Sports activities as a
