About 36 cars race hundreds of laps around a track. The race is split into stages. When something goes wrong, a caution (yellow flag) slows everyone down behind the pace car, and most teams make a pit stop for tires and fuel. Then comes the restart, two by two, and that's where races are won and lost.
Pit Prophet asks you to call what happens next. You don't need to know the drivers. You need to know the moments, and the ones below are what calls are about.
Green flag
Racing at full speed.
Caution (yellow flag)
Something happened (a wreck, debris, rain or a stage ending). The field slows down behind the pace car and nobody can pass.
Pit stop
The car comes onto pit road and a 5-person crew changes tires and adds fuel in about 10 seconds.
Track position
Where you are in the running order. It's hard to pass, so being up front is worth a lot.
Two tires vs four
Four new tires = more grip but a slower stop. Two = a quicker stop and better track position, but less grip.
Stage
Races are split into 3 stages (4 in the Coca-Cola 600). The top 10 at the end of each stage earn bonus points.
Restart
When the caution ends, cars line up two by two and the green flag waves again. Chaos usually follows.
Overtime
If a caution comes out at the end, the race is extended so it can finish under green: a 2-lap sprint.
White flag
One lap to go.
Checkered flag
The race is over.
Red flag
The race is stopped completely, for a big wreck, track repairs or weather.
Pole
First starting spot, earned by being fastest in qualifying.
Draft
Cars running nose-to-tail punch a hole in the air and go faster together. Huge at Daytona and Talladega.
The Big One
A multi-car wreck, common at Daytona and Talladega where the field runs in tight packs.
Superspeedway
The biggest, fastest tracks (Daytona, Talladega). Drafting packs, big wrecks, photo finishes.
Short track
A track under a mile long (Martinsville, Bristol, Richmond). Close quarters, bumping, tempers.
Road course
A track with left AND right turns (Watkins Glen, Sonoma, COTA).
Free pass
During a caution, the first car one lap down gets its lap back.
Lapped car
A car that has been passed by the leader. It's a lap behind.
Crew chief
The team's strategist. They make the pit calls you're trying to predict.
Spotter
A team member high above the track who tells the driver by radio where the other cars are.
Stage points
Bonus championship points for the top 10 at the end of each stage.
Fuel mileage
When the last pit stop was too long ago to finish without saving fuel. Drivers lift early to stretch it.
Manufacturer
Every car is a Chevrolet, a Ford or a Toyota.
Make the call.
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