As This Dirt Track Dares Towards the Future, Will NASCAR Follow in Its Footsteps?

The presence of high-end technology is there in every sport today and motorsports is no different. If anything, motor racing perhaps makes use of more technology than any other sport in the world. However, there are still some aspects of motor technology that NASCAR has yet to apply to their races. With rumors of a dirt track replacing an age-old position in favor of technology, one can’t help but wonder, will NASCAR walk a similar path?

NASCAR is one of the oldest motorsports competitions in the world and over time, it has evolved. However, the stock car racing competition does lag behind certain other competitions outside the States when it comes to technology. But it’s not like the sport is stagnant. They have made gradual advancements and it will be interesting to see how they progress into the future.

Will technology make this racing official role obsolete in NASCAR?

One of the most important jobs on the race track is that of a flagger. A flagger is responsible for the waving of different kinds of flags, like the caution flag, the black flag, the red flag, and many more. However, recent rumors suggest that a staple race track in Pennsylvania could do away with a flagger and that’s something not everyone is on board with.

The track in question is the Lincoln Speedway. As per rumors, the track officials are looking to do away with the flagger position ahead of the 2024 season. In place of a flagger and instead, a screen is all set to be installed which will display the race conditions. The screen will reportedly be controlled by race officials in the tower.

This will make it a lot similar to what Formula One does with screens and lights placed all around the track. If there is a yellow flag, a yellow light flickers on the screen. The same goes for a red flag with red lights. Of course, there still is a person who waves the checkered flag but the in-race flags have mostly been digitized.

There are questions about what happens when the technology fails, which is not very dissimilar to the other side of the debate, the aspect of human error or a faulty radio when it comes to a flagger. Additionally, the screen system is working at the Perth Motorplex race track in Australia and several of the world’s best sprint car drivers have raced on that track.

While nothing has been confirmed by the Lincoln Speedway, this is something NASCAR could implement in its higher divisions as well. The screen and lights system would keep a lot of marshalls away from the track which is quite dangerous to be near during a race. However, not everyone is happy about the removal of a flagger at Lincoln, including local sprint car driver Brett Rose.

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Rose expressed his disappointment at the track officials getting rid of the flagger system in favor of a screen and lights system. He called the potential move “lunacy” and remained adamant in his vision. When a fan questioned why a flagger was necessary, Rose cited safety reasons and that he thought it was not necessary.

“An extra set of eyes? Safety reasons, maybe? 🤷🏻‍♂️ I mean I get why some could think a chief flagger is no longer needed with the use of Raceceivers.  I just don’t think it’s necessary to get rid of an official position,” the sprint car racing driver wrote to a fan on Twitter.

The fanbase has been divided on this issue. Many believe that the job of a flagger is indeed becoming obsolete with all the advancements in technology while others are not exactly open to the idea of a change. Which side of the fence are you on? Do you think racing needs a flagger these days given the level of technological advancements? Let us know your thoughts.

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