Hey Pete, any good stories from our favorite flag worker? I was squinting at a lot of them on tv yesterday, wondering which one was you :)

Well, lessee.

Sunday I was at Station 2, which is right between Turn 1 (the 90) and the bottom of the Esses. I saw in a couple clips that the camera does sweep over that station when tracking cars out of the 90. But as usual, I'm about 4 pixels tall on camera. =)

Sadly, however, I have almost exactly ZERO to report in terms of action. Everything that happened near me happened in the 90, and that was Station 1's zone. I got to see it if I was facing that way (if I have the flag in hand, I have to face downstream for dangers past our station, so I usually miss anything behind me). But other than keeping an eye peeled, I didn't have any work yesterday.

Unless you count commercial breaks. I definitely waved yellow when it was time for a word from the sponsors.

/sarcasm

I was nowhere near the disaster in turn 11. But I did hear Station 17 make the call, and I quote, "We have carnage."

Saturday, however, was a completely different dance. I was at Station 7, the exit of the Bus Stop / Inner Loop (pretty much below the scoring tower). We had *many* spins during Nationwide qualifying. Had another during Cup practice, and even my very first hard impact! Number 66 looped it and slammed his right side into the tire barrier directly across station from me (all the action was directly... I mean *directly* across from me, and not more than a few car lengths away). He got turned around with significant body damage, but got under way and returned to the pits w/o help.

The Nationwide race was just as exciting. I seemed to be the action magnet all day... whenever I had the flag in my hand, *something* happened... my other flagging partner had a peaceful day watching a race. Twice, when we switched, as soon as I stepped up on the station, the shit started flying. Our station captain runs the radio, and kept rotating me back onto station when he got bored and wanted something to do. ;)

The fun really peaked at my station when Hornish got spun out by Ambrose, and then hit by Perez. I don't have a direct video link, but click here and look for the video titled "Big wreck for Hornish."

That's me with the flag. =)

That very briefly sums up my NASCAR weekend. I have a blog in the works (not a R2P one) for all my race weekend chronicles. I'm slowly getting content posted. I'll have more of this weekend on there when I get caught up.

If you click on this link and look for "Newman gets help from a friend" you'll see my station for a fraction of a second as Newman gets a restart push from team mate Hornish and they come rolling past us. I wasn't flagging at the time so I did see this happen live.

And speaking of Newman... we were told on Saturday by the NASCAR official at our AM flagging meeting that on Friday night, Ryan Newman was awarded a special Certificate of Speed from John Q. Law.

Nailed doing 85mph on public roads.

Busted! =))

>That's me with the flag. =)

Cool!

What's the blue flag mean in Nascarland? I notice you were waving that first, but seemed like it was out too long to be a lapped traffic signal.

NASCAR is a species belonging to no known genus of racing. As such, they completely make things up their own way.

A waving blue in NASCAR fills the role of what everyone else uses a waving yellow for... immediate *local* danger. NASCAR doesn't wave for lapped cars or overtaking, as blue is most commonly known for elsewhere.

A waving yellow in NASCAR is a full course caution. Everyone else displays two stationary yellow flags for full course caution.

So when you saw me snap that blue out, that was at the moment he was going completely out of control. A lot of cars get crossed up in the inner loop and still keep it together, so you have to wait for them to really start coming around. Once he did (and having seen so many spins go this way throughout the day already), I knew *exactly* where he'd come to rest, and the danger that would pose to such a tight pack. And sure enough, he collected someone, even if only just barely.

hah i saw you

Thats cool man

odd flag rules!! i would have been like ...ok... if someone wrecked infront of me and you went to waving the blue LOL

"NASCAR doesn't wave for lapped cars or overtaking, as blue is most commonly known for elsewhere"...

I was really annoyed at this last night on iRacing. I really HATE oval racing. The slower cars refuse to get out of your way. If you try to pass forcing the issue, it is likely you will wreck. If you don't force the issue, 2nd place will eventually catch up and harrass you for the position. Goofy stuff.

So I figure, if you are going to hold me up for 20 laps I'll just have to give a little nudge with the chrome horn. Bunch of winers.

Not my cup of fuel, that's for sure.

And somehow, that's the appeal to these racers and fans. Wrecks = entertainment. Entertainment = $$$, and NASCAR wants yours too.

oval racing is hardly the place for whiners. that's the beauty of it-- a lot tougher than it seems, whether it's lapping or being lapped.
And Pete, excellent arm movement mate :) I often think flag marshals are unsung heros. I did it once in a kart event and it was intense.

I should clarify my position on ovals. I have no problem with em. They're not my favorite, but there can be some good action found going left.

My issue is NASCAR as an organization. They've made things more complicated for us flaggers, with no measurable value, and even less respect. And this weekend I got a firsthand look behind the curtain at the Pro Wrestling event this brand of racing (Sprint Cup specifically) has become (in my extremely jaded eyes).

Wow. What a tangent I kicked off there. Hah!

Thanks for the props on the flagging, Francesco. Doing the job well is a big part of why I do this gig in the first place.