DOVER, Del. (AP) — Wrecks and pileups and torn-up cars have become a rarity in NASCAR this season.
There have been fewer yellow flags leading to lengthy, green-flag runs that can make for cleaner races.
Theories are as varied as the types of tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule. Some feel drivers are more cautious and simply racing for valuable points to secure a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Others say the drivers are smarter and have a better feel for their cars.
"I just think guys are racing smarter," four-time champion Jeff Gordon said. "When I look back through the years of my experiences in this sport there have just been certain drivers that you always seem to see in cautions. I think the quality of the drivers and the way they are using their heads (has helped)."
Gordon said there is plenty of evidence of side-by-side racing that could spark wrecks and bring out the caution. It just hasn't happened much.
Of course, it could just be an early-season aberration. The 1-mile concrete track at Dover International Speedway earned the nickname "Monster" for a reason. Racing on the concrete, it's tough to dodge the smoke, the skids and the wrecks that make the 400-mile race one of the best to watch.
There were only five cautions last weekend in the Coca Cola 600. Before that, eight at Darlington, three of which were for debris. Known for "The Big One," Talladega Superspeedway went small and totaled only five cautions for 24 laps. Richmond had one competition caution, three for debris and one for a spin. Kansas Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway combined for only five cautions in consecutive races.
"I don't know where the cautions have gone," five-time champ Jimmie Johnson said. "I'm glad I'm not a part of them. It's fine if it's someone else, but when it's you or your teammates you don't really dig that. I don't have the answer. I don't know where it went. I know from on the race track people may think that we are being conservative and racing for points, but that's been the nature of our sport forever."
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BURSTING THROUGH: Ryan Truex had the pole, just not his appendix for the Nationwide Series race.
Truex raced his way to the top of the field for the first time on Saturday at Dover International Speedway almost two weeks after he needed an appendectomy. He felt sharp pain in his stomach the afternoon of May 21 and was rushed to the hospital. His appendix hadn't burst, but needed to be removed.
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