A competition caution is a caution period called early in a race – before any actual incident (crash, debris, etc.) has happened – to let teams get a scheduled check or adjustment done, usually after a certain number of laps. The most common reason is tire wear. If a new...

Stage racing is NASCAR's system for splitting most Cup Series (and other national series) races into three segments, each with its own mini-competition and points payout, rather than the race just being one continuous event that only matters at the very end.

Restrictor plates are metal plates with small holes, installed between the carburetor and the intake manifold, that limit how much air and fuel can flow into the engine. This caps horsepower and, in turn, caps top speed. 

The Next Gen car (also called the Gen-7 car) is NASCAR's current Cup Series race car, introduced in 2022. It's the biggest overhaul the sport's top-level car has had in decades.