Green-White-Checkered

Green-White-Checkered (GWC) is a racing procedure used in North American motorsports that extends a race by two laps when a caution occurs near the end, ensuring the competition finishes under green flag racing conditions rather than under a yellow caution flag.

The term comes from the three flags used in sequence during this overtime procedure: the green flag signals the restart, the white flag indicates the final lap has begun, and the checkered flag marks the end of the race. This system was created because fans and racing officials felt that races ending under caution—when cars must slow down and cannot pass each other—were disappointing and didn't provide an exciting finish.

Here's how it works in simple terms: Imagine a race is scheduled for 200 laps, but on lap 199, there's a crash on the track. Officials wave the yellow caution flag, and all cars must slow down while the track is cleaned. Without the Green-White-Checkered rule, the race would end under this yellow flag with no real competition for the win. Instead, the GWC rule adds two more laps so drivers can race to the finish line at full speed.

NASCAR first introduced this rule in its Truck Series in 1995, and it proved so popular that the Cup Series adopted it in 2004. The rule has evolved significantly over the years. Originally, teams got only one attempt at a GWC finish—if another caution happened during those final two laps, the race simply ended under yellow anyway. Today, NASCAR allows unlimited overtime attempts, meaning the race will keep restarting until the field completes at least one full lap under green flag conditions.

The procedure includes an important detail called the "overtime line" in some series. This is a designated point on the track that the leader must reach on the first lap of the restart. If the leader passes this line before another caution occurs, the attempt counts as valid. If a caution happens before the leader reaches the overtime line, the race resets and tries again with another two-lap restart.

There's one crucial exception to the restart rule: once the white flag waves to signal the final lap has started, the next flag ends the race no matter what. This means if a crash happens on that last lap, the checkered flag or caution flag will end the competition—there won't be another restart.

The Green-White-Checkered finish has created some of the most memorable moments in modern NASCAR history. The 2004 Ford 400 at Homestead used a GWC finish that decided the championship, and the 2022 Daytona 500 ended in overtime. These finishes generate excitement but also controversy, as they extend races beyond their advertised distance and can change outcomes dramatically.

Different racing series have slightly different versions of this rule. Some limit the number of overtime attempts, while others use different names—you might hear it called simply "overtime" rather than Green-White-Checkered. The core principle remains the same across series: giving fans and competitors a racing finish rather than a parade lap under caution.