Several Busch series drivers questioned NASCAR’s decision to red-flag Saturday’s MBNA Armed Forces Family 200 with five laps remaining in order to ensure a green-flag finish. Since Daytona, NASCAR has used a “five-lap rule” – saying in each prerace driver’s meeting red flags will not be used to ensure a green-flag finish with five or fewer laps remaining. Saturday, a spin by #81-Martin Truex Jr. while the field was working Lap 195 brought out a caution. NASCAR displayed the red flag while the field was working Lap 196, which would fall within the five-lap limit. However, series director Brian DeHart said since the initial flag for the incident, in this case the yellow, came out before the five-lap limit, NASCAR elected to continue to try to end the race under green. The race restarted following Lap 197, allowing three laps of competition before the conclusion.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-1-2003)
