Nascar Nextel Cup Provisionals Explained
	Of course, turning a quick lap in qualifying is important in every NASCAR race . However, if a driver struggles during his qualifying effort, all is not necessarily lost. Of the 43 spots available for any NASCAR Nextel or Busch Series race, 38 are decided by lap time. The following four positions are known as "provisionals."
	NASCAR drivers earn provisionals in several different ways. Car owners in the top 45 positions of the previous season's owner championship standings will receive four provisionals at the outset of the season and will receive an additional one after attempting to qualify for six events, for a season maximum of 10.
	Those owners outside the top 45 in the previous season's owner points are ineligible for provisionals until after their entry makes an attempt to qualify at four NASCAR events. After attempting to qualify for four events, the car owner will receive two provisionals and additional ones can be earned by attempting to qualify for six events, with a season maximum of eight.
	Each provisional used by a car owner during the season –- regardless of standing -– counts against the owner's season allotment earned.
	Provisional starting positions are assigned beginning with the highest ranking car owner who did not qualify on time. They are handed out in descending order until all provisional spots are filled.
	Champion's provisional -- If after 42 positions are assigned there is a car owner whose driver is a past series champion who participated in the previous season, that past champion will take the 43rd starting position.
	If after 42 positions are assigned there is a car owner whose driver is a past series champion who participated in the previous season, that past champion will take the 43rd starting position.
	If there is no such owner in the field, the 43rd starting spot will be given to the next available car owner in the provisional procedure described above.
	Short fields -- Also, in the event the number of entrants is equal to or less than the number of starting positions available for an event, provisionals assigned to fill starting positions 39 through 43 will not count toward the maximum season allotment.
	Craftsman Truck Series provisionals -- Of the 36 spots available in Craftsman Truck Series events, 32 are determined on speed with spots 33-35 determined by a similar provisional system. Through the completion of four NASCAR events, the previous season's owner points are used to determine how provisionals spots are assigned. Starting with the fifth race, the current season's owner points are used.
	A past champion's provisional, identical to the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series champion's provisional, is available to fill the 36th spot. As with Busch and Cup, if such a situation does not exist, the 36th spot will be filled with the next entitled driver under the provisional rules.
	Nascar Nextel Cup Flags Explained
	ATLANTA -- Long before two-way radios were installed in cars to allow drivers and crews to talk with each other, the only way for racing officials to communicate with drivers during noisy racing action was with the use of colored signal flags.
	Nearly every racing series in the United States uses the same combination of flag colors, usually waved by a flagman on a platform at the start-finish line, so drivers know immediately what's happening during the race.
	Just like the green, yellow and red signal lights at a traffic intersection, some of the flags communicate racing conditions.
	GREEN: The track is clear and cars may proceed at speed. This flag is used to signal the beginning of the race and any restarts.
	YELLOW (CAUTION): The track is not clear, slow down and hold your position behind the pace car. This flag is used to signal an accident, debris caused by contact or mechanical failure, or weather-related issues. NASCAR rules allow cars to bunch up behind the leader. In most cases, lead-lap cars restart in the outside lane, while any lapped cars restart to the inside. In addition, a yellow flag during a practice session means cars should go to pits immediately.
	RED: The track is unsafe and there is a situation that requires immediate attention. Cars must go to a designated location and stop. This flag is usually waved in cases of heavy precipitation, an accident which requires immediate medical assistance or if the track is blocked. In addition, NASCAR reserves the right to throw a red flag in the closing laps of a race to make sure the event ends under green conditions.
	WHITE: There is one lap remaining in the scheduled distance.
	CHECKERED: The event has reached its scheduled distance and is complete.
	In addition, there are flags that communicate information:
	BLACK: Come into the pits immediately for consultation. Normally, this flag is waved at an individual car, either because it has a mechanical problem or has broken a rule. Waved in combination with a red flag signals the end of a practice session.
	BLACK WITH WHITE CROSS: Cars that refuse to acknowledge the black flag are shown this flag, which means NASCAR will no longer score them until they come into the pits for consultation.
	BLUE WITH YELLOW STRIPE: Pay attention to your mirrors, because a faster car is approaching from behind. Contrary to popular opinion, this flag does not make it mandatory that slower cars must move over for the leader of the race. This flag gets a workout at tracks like Bristol and Martinsville, where traffic becomes a major factor.
	YELLOW WITH RED VERTICAL STRIPES: Used only on road courses by corner workers, held or waved to signify debris or slippery conditions ahead.
	Nascar Nextel Cup Flag Images