Stage cautions in NASCAR. You either love them or you don’t. They’re the scheduled yellow flags that bunch up the field, hand out valuable stage points, give teams a chance to tweak strategy mid-race, or just are a lifeline for some. On paper, it’s all about spicing up the show and keeping fans on their toes. But on the flip side, many argue they break the natural rhythm of long green-flag runs, messing with tire strategy, fuel windows, and pure racing flow.

NASCAR even experimented with ditching stage cautions entirely on road and street courses, sparking a fiery debate among fans and drivers alike. But while some want the stages gone for good, Dale Earnhardt Jr. just made a strong case for why NASCAR might actually need them more than most realize.

Dale Jr. defends stage cautions

Dale

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