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"Caution! Caution on the racetrack! There's a big wreck on Turn 3 involving four cars. And the Lucky Dog' of this one is Bill Elliott."

"That's a big break for Bill. He was running as fast as the leaders, but was a lap down due to a blown tire."

You might hear a conversation much like this one if you were to listen to a NASCAR broadcast of a race. What is a "Lucky Dog" you might ask. NASCAR mandated this rule recently to "give" a lap back to the first driver one lap, or more, down from the leaders. It also requires that the "Lucky Dog" not be involved in the wreck. The winner of the "Lucky Dog" is then back on the lead lap, but he must start at the tail end of the longest line, which is often that of the lead lap cars. However, there have been times when the longest line is that of the lapped cars. This rule was instigated because of the rule, which now freezes the field of cars as soon as every yellow flag waves. Drivers are to bring their cars down to a safe speed and line up behind the pace car, which enters the track during every caution. During the yellow flag, the cars are to remain in file behind the pace car while the NASCAR safety crews tow damaged cars, and clean debris off the racetrack.

Before these rules, drivers were allowed to "race" to the yellow flag. Often times, a driver one lap down would out run the leader and regain his lost lap. However, safety became an issue because of this racing to the flag. The safety of both drivers on the track and the safety crews that work on the track are the concern.

NASCAR has not mandated the limit of times a "Lucky Dog" can be acquired. In many races the same car would be lapped, given the "Lucky Dog", then lapped again, then again given the "Lucky Dog" during the next caution. A number of times, a driver multiple laps down has won the "Lucky Dog" enough times to regain his position on the lead lap.

Learn more about this author, Meg A Wright.
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