“F*** DUDE!”
Carson Hocevar's frustration was clear as he saw the caution lights flash in Turn 3 on the final lap at Atlanta Motor Speedway last Sunday.
"Now they want to throw a yellow?" he yelled over his radio.
Hocevar was on the verge of potentially securing his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, battling three-wide with Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson as they approached the final corners.
The sudden caution flag, prompted by a mid-pack crash on the backstretch, froze the field and handed the win to Bell, who was ahead at the moment of caution. Hocevar would have to settle for a career-best second place finish.
This incident was not the first of the 2025 season, and has reignited discussions about NASCAR's consistency in deploying the caution flag on the final lap of races.
Just over a week prior, during the second Duel race at Daytona International Speedway, there was a multi-car crash mere yards from the finish line. NASCAR was quick to throw the yellow flag, determining the finishing order based on the moment of caution.
Austin Cindric was declared the winner, despite Erik Jones crossing the finish line first…
Jones, who had already begun celebrating, was visibly confused and disappointed when he was told he didn’t actually win.
"It's frustrating to think you've won, only to have it taken away," Jones said in his post-race interview.
But then, the Daytona 500 saw a huge crash on the final lap down the back straightaway, NASCAR chose not to throw the caution flag, allowing the race to conclude under green flag conditions.
William Byron squeaked through the chaos to secure his second consecutive Daytona 500 victory. Denny Hamlin, who was involved in the last-lap crash, questioned the inconsistency on his podcast, “Actions Detrimental:”
"It's hard to understand the rationale when one race ends under caution and another doesn't."
Then…
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway Saturday, a last-lap crash occurred off Turn 2, involving multiple cars in the middle of the pack. NASCAR chose not to throw the caution flag, despite the carnage.
Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer later acknowledged in the drivers' meeting for the Cup Series race the following day that the decision to not throw the caution flag in the Xfinity Series race was “aggressive.”
Sawyer reassured Cup Series drivers that NASCAR would prioritize safety and not have them race through a debris field—indicating that if a similar situation occurred that day, a caution would be thrown without question.
And, well… that’s exactly what happened.
These inconsistent and seemingly random decisions by NASCAR in these huge moments has led to criticism from drivers and fans alike. They are desperately calling for consistent officiating regarding last-lap incidents.
Retired driver Greg Biffle took to Facebook, suggesting a rule change might be necessary for NASCAR. Biffle wants to see drivers race back to the finish line on the final lap, even if a caution is called.
Biffle advocated to eliminate the traditional practice of freezing the field at the moment of caution on the last lap allowing drivers to settle the race on the track. Biffle explained the importance of excitement and integrity within the sport, and providing on-track battles to end the race, especially when they’re three-wide is very important.
Elton Sawyer noted during a SiriusXM interview that NASCAR is actively reviewing its policies and is open to feedback from drivers and teams to adjust the rules in regard to last-lap cautions.
As the debate continues all throughout social media, it’s evident that something needs to be done. NASCAR officials, drivers, teams, and industry experts must develop a solution that prioritizes safety while also allowing the fans to see the great finish they deserve.
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