Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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I was at Morgan County Speedway this past Tuesday night and watched as Korey Weyant led the entire sprint car feature until he got caught up in lap traffic and got stuck behind Matt Harms who would not let him get by him which to me seemed to cost Weyant the win. With only 2 laps to go Mitch Wissmiller(who has a 410) was able to get by Weyant (who has a 360) and take the win. Congrats to him(as I have no particular favorites just enjoy the sport) My problem is this... Why was there no layover flag to let Harms know to watch for the leader approching behind him and why as a driver did he not on his own realize that he was at the tail and needed to stay out of the way??? Disappointing to watch Weyant lead just to take 2nd for reason like that............

Never heard of a layover flag in racing do you mean the move over flag.

Bones, Mr. Hubbard has asked a legitimate question.

I am familiar with a "layover" flag somewhat. It goes back to the late 20's thru the late40's.

Many truckers, in those days, were on the road for up to two months. The wife would be left at home alone and, in some cases "wanting" if you know what I mean.

Periodically, she would be "serviced" by a male friend of hers. Since most did not have a telephone the male friend would walk by the house. If he saw a blue ribbon hanging out the window it meant her husband was home the the "lay" was "over!"

Hope this has helped. Have a good one!!!

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is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed 
pharmacist!"

A layover flag is a blue flag with a yellow stripe diagonally down it. It is used to tell cars running in the back of the pack that the leader of the race is approaching behind them and they need to be cautious and curtiousy in letting the leader pass them. Obviously if a car is getting lapped by the leader he is not competting for the win so it is their job to be cautious and curtiousy of the person who is leading. In the particular race I am talking about the lap car was competting with the leader like he was taking the lead from him so there should have been a layover flag thrown to tell him to move out of the leaders way.

Lapped cars playing a role in determining the winner of a race has been happening since the beginning of racing. Jus tbecause a flagman uses the flag doesn't neccessarily mean said driver must heed it. Those guys are racing for position, too.

1965 Knoxville Nationals was decided when Jerry Blundy had a big lead over Kenny Weld most of the race, until he tried to lap Jerry Weld, who did the best to block Blundy until Kenny caught him with a lap to go.Kenny Weld won by a car-length, if my memory serves me correctly.

I've always heard it called a "move over" flag. I believe it's at the discretion of the track/sanctioning group and then the flagman and/or race director whether it is used or not.

Phil Taylor

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Technically, the blue flag with the yellow stripe tells a driver to "move to the outside".

Every flagman I've worked with has a different approach to using the flag and what he wants the flag to mean.

Some think the driver recieving the flag should move high to allow faster cars underneath, some think the slower driver should go low. Some flagman tell the drivers to "hold their line" while "keeping a consistant speed" to allow the faster traffic to choose which route to take around while still others view it merely as a courtesy to the slower traffic with no specific instructions on what to do when displayed.

My personal favorite is the "hold your line" method which allows the faster traffic a choice without giving any specific driver in the running order a completely free pass. Track conditions and layout can change my personal opionion on the best way to do things.

I prefer that flag not be used. If you are the leader you should be able to pass the back markers.

Not if the back marker is blocking you like hes now got the lead and the only way you would be able to get by him is to end up taking yourself out by running into him.

if he couldn't get by the lapped car ----- then how'd the 2nd place guy get by him?

the move over flag has been all but burned nationwide - and should be. half the entertainment in a race is seeing how drivers negotiate lapped traffic. all the lapped guy caused in that scenario was 2nd closing in on the leader - in truth - the eventual winner deserved to win. because he got around the 1st place dude when he couldn't get around the lapped car.

no never a move over flag - unless its a dude who is running 60mph when others are going 130. now those situations dont just affect a race = but are dangerous. guys that slow used to not be in a mains as often - but with lower car counts these days - they are. so no burn the move over flag - use it in those situations where it could presents a very excessive and unnecesary DANGER.

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EXACTLY!!!!!

isn't that what the Black flag is for??

No, Black flag is get off the track NOW, some drivers try to ignore it.

As a car owner, I wish they would use the move over flag, the "backmarkers" are called that for a reason, usually not enough experience to run up front and not alot of car control yet. We've lost, and so have many of others, quite a few car's to backmarkers when the driver has tried to lap them.

I know the crowd likes to watch the driver's in traffic lapping cars, but should a fast car and a good driver have to pay the price of a backmarker moving all over the track? It costs the driver a win, money and a torn up car. That is why I wish they would use it. I am not saying they should slow down and let the leaders by, just "Hold their line" so the leaders know where they are going to be.

JMO

Its called racing for a reason lapped traffic can turn a boring race into a barn burner and thats what the fans want. No moveover flag we have been victem to this before and it sucked but its worked out also. Just race hard and hope for the best but whatever you do put a show on for the fans cause their the ones who pay to watch us.

Well if a car is only going 60 and the avgerage speed is 120-130, I don't think a black flag would be out of line at all

Reference "Up & Over 1" video tape of crashes & Interviews filmed mostly at Knoxville & Husets, Doug Clark is describing the different flags that are used, When he describes what the Blue flag with the Yellow stripe means he says: "There's a race going on and your not in it". It's been a while since I watched the video but that was pretty close to his word to word description of it.

LOVE IT, Paintboss!!!

nowing48, You don't have to pay the bill's do you? Maybe exciting to you, but costly to drivers and owners.

AGAIN, JMO

Everybody has to race the backmarkers if you cant pass them and someone else drives by you and wins well i guess you need to learn to work traffic better. jmo And no i dont pay the bills but i do understand the cost of racing and what goes into it.

THANK YOU....Im glad someone understands where Im coming from and actually agress with me here!!!