I have assisted flagging over the years and spent this whole season flagging for sprints on dirt without an assistant in the flag stand... not my preference, but this is what the track wanted.
my number one responsibility is to make sure we have the safest run race possible given the nature of the sport.. i don't hesitate to toss out a yellow..
direct traffic as needed.. this requires the drivers to check the flag stand every few laps.. some drivers have told me they never check the flag stand, they only watch the lights.. this is especially bad on the drivers part... but they will do what they choose till they get the black flag...
let drivers know where they are on lap counts, when i can get the scoring to work with me.. i like to give the 1/2 way then either 10 or 5 to go... then usually white and checker... the ownership wanted me to give two sticks up for 2 to go then white and checker...
good communication between the flag stand and drivers is a must for the safest, best run shows.
MY.02
In that order....our son in 1st and 2nd place crossed the finish line. Everyone took the white. Checkered flag came out our son won. A kart spun out in turn 1 and flagman waved yellow checkers. Karts starting pulling off then the flag man gave the signal line them back up and had the karts come back from pits and did green white checkered restart. Our son had to 2nd because he passed for the lead on the white flag and they went back a lap on restart. Then on restart 1st place blocked him and we got 2nd. We weren't very happy as you imagine. Everyone in pits including other dad of kid that won said we should have had it. I wanted to go to to flag man and tell him thanks for taking away a win from my son but I bit my lip.
In that order....our son in 1st and 2nd place crossed the finish line. Everyone took the white. Checkered flag came out our son won. A kart spun out in turn 1 and flagman waved yellow checkers. Karts starting pulling off then the flag man gave the signal line them back up and had the karts come back from pits and did green white checkered restart. Our son had to 2nd because he passed for the lead on the white flag and they went back a lap on restart. Then on restart 1st place blocked him and we got 2nd. We weren't very happy as you imagine. Everyone in pits including other dad of kid that won said we should have had it. I wanted to go to to flag man and tell him thanks for taking away a win from my son but I bit my lip.