I like the stages cause they race hard to get those bonus points, but the caution that accompany them is unnecessary.. They should just waive the green/checker on that lap and award the points. But every "stage" yellow stops the race for about 7 laps.. Though, let a yellow fly with 5 or 6 to go before a stage and they'll have pit rd open and be back to green with 1 to go before the stage ends. It's silly.. Is what it is I guess.
They don't have as many of those late race faux "debris" cautions now a days, which is good. But they're still "yellow" happy anytime someone even slows down it seems. (As long as their a "name" anyway)
Oh, Darlington is over a mile, btw.. Late race yellow would of made it more interesting, but a run longer than 35 laps would of done the same.. Place eats tires and needs green flag runs.. Gordon let the cat out of the bag when he said "in his day, you had to save tires and rely on mechanical grip over all this new downforce" Which has also killed most of the side by side racing. Pretty much comes down to track position, pit stops and mistakes. Very hard to pass with all the downforce unless your car is really, REALLY good, compared to the competition.