Green-White-Checkered

Green-White-Checkered is a NASCAR overtime procedure that extends a race beyond its scheduled distance to ensure it finishes under green flag conditions rather than during a caution period.

This procedure is triggered when a caution flag appears near the end of a race. Officials reset for a final two-lap sprint to the finish—first displaying the green flag (restart), followed by the white flag (final lap), and finally the checkered flag (race completion). The rule provides fans with exciting race conclusions rather than anticlimactic caution finishes.

NASCAR has modified this rule several times since its 2004 Cup Series introduction. Current regulations allow for unlimited restart attempts until drivers take the white flag, after which the next flag (caution or checkered) ends the race. This overtime format remains unique to North American racing series.