NASCAR's Lucky Dog Rule was first used at Dover in 2003 in an attempt to increase safety in NASCAR races. When a caution flag would come out, the drivers would race to the start/finish line before they slowed to caution speed. Before the rule was implements, many crashes and close calls occurred after the yellow flag waved.

In 1981 Neil Bonnett hit Bobby Wawak while trying to keep Cale Yarborough a lap down. Both Bonnett and Wawak hit the wall. In 1983 After Dale Earnhardt blew an engine, Dick Brooks, the leader, slowed down. Lake Speed, in an attempt to get a lap back, swerved into his path. Brooks braked abruptly. Darrel Waltrip barreled toward him and spun sideways. Waltrip hit the bank and spun back onto the track in front of Cale Yarborough and Joe Ruttman.

The final straw for NASCAR officials was in September 2003 after Dale Jarrett crashed. All the leaders slowed down except for Michael Waltrip who raced to put a car a lap down. Waltrip nearly hit Jarrett. At that point, NASCAR officials implemented the Lucky Dog Rule.

The Lucky Dog Rule states that the drivers maintain their track position as soon as the yellow flag waves, except for the first driver who is not on the lead lap. That driver is allowed to pass the leader which enables him to gain a lap.

A driver who passes under the yellow is allowed to move back to his position immediately. If he does not, he is penalized. A driver who gains a lap back can't make two pits stop during that caution.

There are exceptions to this rule.
For instance a driver can not gain a lap if they are involved in the incident which cased the caution.
Driver's who are not on the lead lap because of a NASCAR penalty can not gain a lap.
The Lucky Dog Rule is not used during the last ten laps of a race.

This rule has caused controversy within NASCAR. Drivers who have been several laps down have come back to win or finish well. At Watkins Glen in 2006, Kyle Busch went down 5 laps. He gained them all back under the Lucky Dog Rule and finished the race in 9th place.

In 2006 Jeff Gordon made a comeback from 4 laps down in Indy. From 2003 through 2006 seven drivers who benefited from the Lucky Dog Rule have come back to win the race.

Some people think that this rule makes NASCAR racing less sporting. NASCAR officials believe the Lucky Dog Rule increases the safety of drivers and safety crew. They may make adjustments, but they won't be discarding this rule any time soon.

Learn more about this author, Lynn Jordan.
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