What is a bracket race?

A bracket drag race is a straight-line acceleration contest between two cars, usually starting at different times, from a standing start over a specified distance, usually a quarter mile or an eighth mile.  Racers line up in front of a countdown device called a Christmas Tree.  When they leave the starting line, timers record how long it takes them to reach the finish line.  This is called elapsed time, or ET for short.  Top speed is also recorded.

Getting Started

The best way to get your feet wet is to go to a "test and tune" session (most tracks have them weekly).  For a small fee, you can practice your starting line procedure, learn how the car reacts to tuning changes, and make passes down the track without the pressure of racing against someone.

You should also take time to watch how other racers do things, and most importantly, ask question.  Most racers will be happy to give you pointers on improving your technique.

Competing

When you're ready to race against other people, you can compete in your track's weekly series.  Your car will be put in a category, or class, based on the elapsed time of your car.  Top speed is not a factor in bracket racing. 

You will need to determine how quick you think your car will be.  This is called the dial-in.  When you are matched up with another car, the dial-ins are compared and the slower car is given a head start equal to the different between the two. To win, you want to run as close to your dial-in as possible without going faster, or "breaking out".

You can also win if both cars run faster than the dial-ins (called running under) and you are classes to your dial-in.  If both of you get down the track exactly at your dial-in or have the same break out, the driver who reacted quicker to the Christmas Tree - called reaction time, or RT - wins the race.  Here are possible outcomes for a race between Car A with a 14.50 second dial-in and Car B with a 15.25 dial in:

          Car A runs 14.55 seconds, Car B runs 15.35 seconds

          Car A wins (runs closest to dial-in without breaking out)

          Car A runs 14.40 seconds, Car B runs 15.20 seconds

          Car B wins (both cars run under, Car B runs closest to dial-in)

          Car A runs 14.50 seconds with 0.510 RT, Car B runs 15.25

          seconds with 0.505 RT

          Car  B wins (runs at dial-in, has better reaction time)

The Track

Burnout Box - Small depressions in the track surface just before the starting line which are sprayed down with water.  You pull the car forward until the rear tires are just at the edge of the water, then do a quick burnout to warm up the tires and get rid of any debris lodged in the tread.

60 Foot Timer - Measures the time it takes the car to cross the first 60 feet of the quarter-mile.  This shows you how well the car launches, which affects your elapsed times.  Most street-tired cars have 60 foot times around 2 seconds.

660 Foot Timer - The 660 foot mark is the halfway point of a quarter mile track.  Your elapsed time is recorded.  At some tracks, speed (in miles per hour) is also recorded.  Some track also have timers at 330 and 1,000 foot intervals.

Mile Per Hour Timer - Also known as the speed trap, this timer is located 66 feet before the finish line.  It records the car's average speed between it and the finish line.  This is the mile per hour figure on your time slip.

Finish Line - When you cross the light beam at the end of the quarter-mile, you stop the ET clock.  The amount of time (in seconds) between when the timer was activated and when it stopped is the ET figure on the time slip.

Shutdown Area - Beyond the finish line is the shutdown area, usually a quarter-mile or more in length, where you can safely slow the car down to take the turnout that takes you to the time slip booth.  If something goes wrong and you can't stop the car, most tracks have a sand trap, net, or other setup at the end of the shutdown to stop you.

The Tree

Getting a good reaction time at the starting line (better known as cutting a light) all starts with the Christmas Tree.  A " good light" will give you a big advantage over your opponent, especially if you are running the slower car.  Some guys, like NHRA Super Stock driver Dan Fletcher, are known for their consistently quick reaction times.

In simple terms, the Tree is a set of vertical lights that gives the driver a visual countdown to the start of a race.  Referring to the illustration, the lights are as follows, from top:

Pre-Stage Indicator Lights - Round yellow bulbs that warn you when you are getting close to the s starting line and the "stage" (ready to race) position.

Stage Indicator Lights - Second set of round yellow bulbs that tell you when you are on the stating line and ready to race.  The bulbs light up when the front wheels of the car cross a beam of light that goes to a set of photo cells.  These cells trigger the timer when the car leaves the light beam.

Countdown Lights - Round amber floodlights that count down to the green "go" light.  There are two types of countdowns, or starts.  The pro start flashes all three lights simultaneously, with a 0.400 second difference between the amber and green lights.  This is called a Pro or 0.400 Tree.  The bracket start flashes one light a time, with a 0.500 second difference between the last amber and the green light.  This is known as a 0.500 or sportsman Tree.

Green Light - This is the one you're waiting for.  When the green lights flashes it means you're free to mash the gas pedal and make a run.  This is called the launch.

Red Light - IF this bottom bulb flashes, you're out.  The red light will go off when you leave the starting line before the green light is activated, resulting in a disqualification.  Known as relighting, this action automatically gives the win to your opponent.

Most drivers try to gain their launch just as the last of the three amber lights goes off.  That puts the car in motion when the green light activates.  This is where most bracket racers are won or lost, so time practicing your staging and launching techniques is time well spent.

The Time slip

After you make a run, the guys in the little both at the end of the track will hand you a piece of paper with numbers all over it.  This paper is called the time slip.

The time slip provides a wealth of information about a run.  IT tells you how well you launched, how quick and fast you went at various points on the track, and what your final ET and miler per hour were.  And if you were racing against an opponent, the time slips tells you how he did, too.

Lane - Shows which lane you are in

Car Number - Most cars are assigned numbers at official races.

Class - Marked if running in an official race.  Not used for "test and tune" session.

Dial-In - This is the elapsed time you think your car will run.

Reaction Time - This tells you how quickly you reacted to the green light on the Christmas Tree.  In this case, it is set as a 0.500 second or sportsman tree.  You want your RT to be at or as close to 0.500 as possible.  If you react faster than that, you've just red lighted.

60, 330, 1/8, MPH, and 1000 ET and MPH Times - These figures give you the elapsed times at the 60 foot, 330 foot, 660 foot, or eighth mile, and 1,000 foot marks.  You also get the mile per hour figure at the 660 foot mark, which is half-track.

1/4 and MPH Quarter Mile ET and MPH - These are your finishing elapsed time and mile per hour numbers.  When it comes to bragging rights, these are the ones that count!