ATLANTA — As legend has it, NASCAR felt obligated to introduce the 'Lucky Dog' rule back in 2003, after a pair of big-name drivers (Casey Mears, Dale Jarrett) nearly got into a harrowing crash after a yellow caution flag had been dropped, as a means of speeding up to the field during this supposedly slow period of moving about the track.
(The term "lucky dog" was apparently coined by NASCAR TV analyst Benny Parsons.)
What's the Lucky Dog rule?
Generally speaking ...
During yellow caution flags, the first driver who's a lap-plus down automatically gets his/her lap back, once the caution flag has been removed from the race.
The notable exceptions or denials include:
a) Drivers who weren't even with the leaders, lap-wise, due to mechanical problems.
b) Drivers who had been previously penalized by NASCAR during that same race.
c) Drivers who were responsible for causing the current yellow caution flag.
The ruling might have been launched as a well-intended safety measure, but it also had/has its share of critics, namely those who believe slow drivers – without mechanical problems or previous penalties – shouldn't get credit for a lap that was never earned.
Which brings us the controversial case of Chase Elliott: The Dawsonville native had seemingly been eligible for Lucky Dog consideration during Sunday's Folds Of Honor/Quik Trip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, since he didn't fall under the punitive parameters of A, B and C established above.
NASCAR officials were immediately silent on Elliott's matter. But that didn't stop Elliott from expressing a few choice words about those making the decisions.
"It seems like (I qualified for the Lucky Dog exemption), from what I was told," Elliott told 11Alive Sports on Sunday, just minutes after the race. "Before I tear into anyone, I wanted to see if that was the case.
"I'm not acting as I was going to win the race," lamented Elliott, who finished 19th overall. "I certainly would have liked to have been the 'Lucky Dog,' if that's what we were.
"(NASCAR officials) haven't been doing a very good job the past couple weeks with a few calls ... just easy stuff that's not difficult – if that is indeed the case."