16 Fewer ServiceMaster Clean Cautions This Season
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (December 16, 2009) – The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season had a decrease in the number of cautions compared to 2008. There were 305 ServiceMaster Clean cautions during the 36-race, regular-season schedule in 2009 compared to 321 in 2008.
This season, ServiceMaster Clean became the first-ever official sponsor of caution periods at the 19 International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI) tracks as well as Dover International Speedway. They host 33 of the 36 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races during the season (Pocono and Indianapolis are not part of the program). When there was a problem on the track, the ServiceMaster Clean yellow flag was displayed and the company’s familiar yellow vehicles were dispatched to clean the track.
The difference between the two seasons can be attributed to weather and events that were extended beyond the scheduled distance for a green-white-checkered finish. Nine races were extended in 2008 compared to just four in 2009. There were 12 ServiceMaster Clean caution flags for rain at six events this season with three shortened due to inclement weather. In 2008, rain was an issue at only three events and shortened only one (The first race at Loudon was stopped 16 laps short of the scheduled distance).
The 2009 Daytona 500 was halted by rain, but there was no caution because of the weather. An accident brought out the eighth caution of the race (147-152). Before racing could resume, rain began to fall, the race was red flagged and eventually called 48 laps short of the scheduled distance. The caution was for the accident and not the rain.
Rain also interrupted the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and the scheduled 301-lap event at Loudon in June. The Charlotte event the only race of the year that was not held on the date scheduled. It was postponed until Monday and the event was delayed three times by rain and finally called after 227 of 400 laps were complete. At Loudon, 273 of 301 laps were completed before the event was called.
There were seven fewer debris cautions (77-70) this season. Four events were without a debris caution in 2009 (Fontana1, Charlotte1, Indianapolis, Kansas) compared to three last year (Daytona1, Richmond, Charlotte2).
The number of caution laps was almost identical (1,447-1,446) with the yellow out for one more lap in 2009.
During the two-year span, 18 was the largest number of cautions. That came in 2008 during the spring event at Martinsville. The race also produced the largest number of laps under caution (89).
In 2009, Darlington proved to be “Too Tough To Tame” with 17 cautions for 73 laps. Almost a fifth of the event (99.718 of 501.322 miles) was completed under caution.
About ServiceMaster Clean
In racing, a yellow flag means it’s time to clean up the track. Debris removal and track drying must be done quickly and professionally in order to get back to racing. In homes and businesses across North America, a yellow ServiceMaster Clean van means cleaning and restoration is being done quickly and professionally by America’s number one cleaning team.
With more than 4,500 franchise locations around the world, ServiceMaster Clean serves customers through a global network of franchises that provide janitorial services, commercial carpet cleaning, hard surface floor care, residential carpet cleaning and upholstery, and disaster restoration services. The company has been a market leader more than 60 years. For more information, visit us at www.servicemasterclean.com.
ServiceMaster Clean
ServiceMaster Clean is part of the ServiceMaster family of brands, one of the world’s largest and most versatile service networks. The company’s brands include TruGreen, TruGreen LandCare, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec. ServiceMaster Clean is committed to its franchise owners. Our ability to offer qualified prospects up to 80 percent financing to start their cleaning business is just one of the many benefits of our program. Visit our franchise Web site at www.ownafranchise.com to learn more about the opportunities available with ServiceMaster Clean.
SPRINT CUP SERIES
ServiceMaster ‘By The Numbers
(*Pocono and Indianapolis Motor Speedway are not participants in the ServiceMaster Caution program)
2008 2009
Cautions (36 races) 321 305
Cautions (33 races*) 293 283
Caution Laps (36 races) 1,446 1,447
Cautions Laps (33 races*) 1,324 1,374
Laps Run (36 races) 10,726 10,492
Laps Run (33 races*) 10,166 9,960
Miles Run (36 races) 14,489.356 14,107.391
Miles Under Caution (36 races) 1,992.308 1,972.568
Most Caution in a Race 18 (Martinsville1) 17 (Darlington)
Fewest Cautions in a Race 4 (Watkins Glen) 3 (Michigan1, Indianapolis)
Most Caution Laps in a Race 89 (Martinsville1) 79 (Richmond1)
Most Miles Under Caution (Race) 130.000(Indianapolis) 99.718 (Darlington)
Race Extended Due to Caution (36 races) 9 5
Race Shortened Due to Weather (36 races) 1 3
Caution Breakdown
(Reason For Caution)
2008 2009
Cautions 321 305
Accident 156 146
Spin/Stalled 61 53
Debris 77 70
Oil/Fluids 12 14
Rain 3 12
Competition Yellow 11 9
Safety 0 1
2008 races interrupted by rain (Fontana1, Loudon1, Pocono2, Phoenix 2)
2008 races shortened due to rain (Loudon1)
· A two-car accident brought out the seventh caution (281-284) at Loudon. During the caution, rain began to fall and the race could not be resumed and was called 16-laps short of the scheduled distance.
2009 races interrupted by rain (Daytona1, Fontana1, Charlotte1, Loudon1, Michigan2, Bristol2, Charlotte2)
2009 races shortened due to rain (Daytona1, Charlotte1, Loudon1).
· An accident in the Daytona 500 brought out the eighth caution (147-152). During the caution, rain began to fall and the race could not be resumed and was called 48 laps short of the scheduled distance.
· The Coca-Cola 500 at Charlotte was postponed from May 24 due to rain and run on Monday. The race was halted three times by rain before being called with 340.5 of the scheduled 600 miles completed.
· Loudon1 was halted by rain and called 28 laps short of the scheduled distance.
NATIONWIDE SERIES
ServiceMaster Clean ‘By The Numbers’
(All 35 Events)
2008 2009
Cautions 241 248
Caution Laps 1,020 1,158
Laps Run 6,465 6,715
Miles Run 8,520.589 8,643.964
Miles Under Caution 1,372.357 1,505.483
Most Caution 13 (Las Vegas, Charlotte2) 14 (Memphis)
Fewest Cautions 3 (Nashville1, Daytona 2, Chicago) 2 (Chicago)
Most Miles Under Caution 87.000(Charlotte2) 90.000 (Las Vegas)
Race Length Extended Due to Caution 10 9
Race Length Shortened Due to Weather 2 (Bristol1, Montreal) 1 (Charlotte1)
Loading ...
