How do they determine the winner in NHRA racing?

Question

i know what a hole shot is

Answer 1

To put it simply....the car that gets to the finish line first is the winner and advances to the next round/race. The car that loses goes home. Period.

  

The winner of the entire event is the car that wins every single round including the final round. So the winner of the event is simply undefeated that day. He got to the finish line first every single race.

"Heads Up" racing is when both green lights turn on at the same time. The top NHRA series are all Heads Up and start with 16 cars which is 4 rounds total in the "Finals".  

There's also NHRA sanctioned Handicapped racing...also called Bracket racing. The same thing apply's when determining a winner, except in bracket racing, you choose what time you think/know your car will run which is called a "Dial In". You then write that time on your windshield. The track crew see's your dial in time and communicates it to the tower.

When you pull up to the line, if your 'dial in' is a 14.00 second time and your opponent is a slower 16.00 second time, then your opponent's green light will turn on 2.00 seconds before yours giving him a 2 second head start. It's simply a handicap like in Golf. To allow anyone to race anyone and compete and is the backbone of drag racing. Now, time wise, both of you should get to the finish line at the same time. But throw in your 'Hole Shot' understanding, and the hopes your car run's EXACTLY 14.00 and not way slower and you'll get to the finish line first, albeit side by side with your opponent you caught up to.

There's one other factor though. If you run faster than 14.00 that's called a "Break Out" and your disqualified. Reason being, is so you don't just put a 14.00 dial in on a 10.00 second car and just go to the finish line first. That's what makes Bracket Racing fair and exciting. Also, The total number of car's that show up at the track determine's how many rounds the finals will be on any given night in bracket racing.

I've seen as many as 48 car's in one class.

Answer 2

laser timing sensors built into the track, shoots a beam across to the reciever the first to break the beam after the green wins

Answer 3

First across the finish line without red lighting wins. The quickest E.T. doesn't always win if the reaction time isn't fast enough.

Answer 4

frankie c  ex planed it perfect i drag race in sportsman class which is bracket racing if you want to win you have to have your car dialed in so it runs just about the same every time mine is 6.89-6.9 so i dial in at 6.89 and hope i don't go just a tiny bit faster but that's the chance you take then there is the hole shot in bracket racing this you have to be almost perfect because so many others are i race every week and about once every month i red light its that close if you want to win i have a 1996 camaro z28 lt1 built around 500hp with a 125hp shot of nitrous