Daytona Beach, FL (My Sportsbook) - During the drivers' pre-race meeting for Thursday's Daytona 500 qualifying races, NASCAR informed teams it's changing the rules for green-white-checkered finishes.

NASCAR now will allow a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the white flag -- the final lap -- if a late-race caution forces the two-lap overtime finish. Previously, there was one restart attempt.

If the leader has taken the white flag and a caution occurs thereafter, the rule will remain the same, with the field frozen when the yellow flag is displayed. The race then ends under caution.

NASCAR will implement the rule change for all three of its national touring series -- Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series -- effective immediately.

"We want to do all we can to finish our races under green flag conditions, and the fans want to see that and so do the competitors," NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said. "We felt that putting a cap at three attempts to finish the race under green is the way to go. It gives the fans what they want, and it also gives the teams a better opportunity to prepare for their end of race strategy."

NASCAR officials met with drivers and teams Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway to discuss the change and gather their input. Some drivers said they were in favor of the change, while others such as Daytona 500 pole sitter Mark Martin opposed the revision.

"At this level, I feel that we have to try to hold on to some sort of integrity, and for me, it gets a little bit like a circus," Martin said.