About the sport, Drag Racing!

The sport of Drag Racing is rare. Many states including Vermont are not fortunate enough to have a drag-strip. Therefore many people have not seen or even heard of the sport. My explanation may be somewhat confusing, but if googled, many videos can be found to better your understanding.

Drag racing consists of of two straight lanes of pavement at least 1/4 mile long, normally longer to allow for a safer shutdown. Two competitors are lined up side by side against one another. They first burn their tires, to allow for a better grasp on traction while traveling down the strip. They then pull ahead and prepare to launch their race cars. As the two creep ahead to stage their cars, they also keep a close on the 'tree' lights. The first two lights determine if they are 'staged.' When both competitors are fully staged, the following 3 yellow lights on the tree will drop. A racer will want to time their car just right so that when they leave the light will be exactly green. They then proceed down the track, full board, all out, pedal to the metal, but as anyone learns, this sport, is a race against oneself.

The key to the sport is to be precise, consecutive, or consistent. You only get a few passes or time trials before you have to predict what you will do during the actual race.

During eliminations, each racer estimates what they believe their race car will do in the quarter mile. There are many influential factors (weather, wind, heat, elevation, car temp, traction, time of day, etc) which makes the estimate much harder than it seems. The key is to run as close to your dial-in as possible. If you run faster or beat your time, you are disqualified. If you leave the launching line before the light is green, you are also dq-ed. And if your competitor runs closer to their dial in than you, you lose as well.

The tree also plays a great part. The difference within the two competitors dial in, is also the difference in when the racers light turns green. If each of them make the pass exactly as they should, the two of them would cross the finish line at the exact same time. The faster car always has to catch the slower one.

Example:

Car #1
Dial in: 10.79
Actual ET: 10.809
>>WIN by 0.019<<>