Christopher Bell sounds off on NASCAR's new stage caution procedure

NASCAR on Thursday announced a change to its stage caution procedures, where yellows that occur within 10 laps of a forthcoming stage caution instead act as the stage yellow, which allows for more green flag racing. If said caution were to come out, points would be paid out like they are during stage breaks. 

While the change should help in some cases to allow the race to go back green quicker, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell doesn't think it went far enough. 

Christopher Bell wishes NASCAR went further

"I like the principle of it," Bell said Thursday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "I like the principle of spending less time under yellow. I just don't love the floating stages. I'm not sure how that's going to affect how the race plays out. I think in [a] best case scenario, they just do away with the stage breaks, the yellow flags, and let it run green through and then throw the yellow flag [for] incident or debris or whatever.

"I think that would be the best way to go. But in general, I think more green flag racing is definitely better. So I'm in favor of it. I'm in favor of not throwing the yellow for the stage breaks."

Stage cautions, which occur at a pre-determined lap set by NASCAR, have been contentious since they were introduced in 2017 and are mostly seen by fans as another way for the networks airing the races to squeeze in advertising breaks. 

The change NASCAR announced Thursday is a good one, but it's far from the best option that was on the table: eliminating stage cautions all together, as Bell reiterated.