Format Bracket racing

1 format

1.1 dial-in
1.2 reaction time
1.3 breaking out
1.4 bracket racing strategy
1.5 red light , other fouls

format
dial-in

each car chooses dial-in time before race, predicting elapsed time driver estimates take or car cross finish line. displayed on 1 or more windows starter can adjust christmas tree starting lights accordingly. slower car in race given green light before faster car margin of difference between 2 dial-in times.

in principle, if both drivers have equal reaction times , cars run posted dial-ins, both cars should cross finish line @ precisely same time. in reality, extremely rare occurrence. measuring devices both @ start , @ end of track post times down 1/100000 of second (0.00001s precision), makes tied races impossible.

some forms of bracket racing (nhra competition eliminator, nhra stock groups) have cars classified type, , dial-in time based on type of car entered.

reaction time

when car leaves starting line, timer started car. difference between when green light comes on , when car leaves starting line called reaction time. if driver leaves before light turns green, automatically red-lighted , disqualified round unless opponent commits more serious violation (crossing track boundary line, timing block, or touching barrier). in drag race event heads-up situation, when first driver commits red light foul, green light automatically turns on other driver. in handicap start, if both drivers leave ahead of green light, driver worse aggravation have lane subsequently charged foul. winner default 1 performed lesser aggravation (-0.003 wins on -0.009, example).

sometimes, people incorrectly refer reaction time unrelated 60 foot takeoff time. reaction time merely indication of how fast driver reacted compared when green light came on. 60 foot takeoff time indicator of how fast vehicle started moving @ beginning of race, regardless of driver’s reaction time. if driver launched car power available traction, have wheelspin , correspondingly have longer time cross 60 foot barrier if drive more finesse.

breaking out

breaking out when racer manages cross finish line in less time 1 dialed-in beforehand.

if 1 car breaks out , disqualified , other 1 wins default.
if both cars break out, 1 closer dial-in time wins.
a foul start, crossing boundary line or wall, or failure @ post-race inspection override breaking out violations.
not bracket racing classes have breaking out (nhra competition eliminator).
based on driver s competition licence or chassis certification, absolute limit may imposed. car going faster absolute limit may automatically disqualified.

examples:

this eliminates advantage bending rules putting slow dial-in time on windshield head start. however, racers purposely dial slower time , let off of throttle or use brakes near end of track in attempt use strategy win race rather relying on car run dial in.

bracket racing strategy

bracket racing boils down 1 thing; putting best package . best package technically winner in every drag race. package is : package = drivers reaction time + deviation dial-in.

for example:

driver has reaction time of .025 , car runs 9.653 on 9.64 dial in. package = .025 + (9.653-9.64) = .038

driver b has reaction time of .005 , car runs 10.684 on 10.66 dial in. package = .005 + (10.684-10.66) = .029

in scenario driver b wins despite car running further off number. can deduce more won; can see won (.038 - .029) = .009 finish margin 22 inches @ 140 mph.

the formula used calculate margin of victory is :

17.6 * finish margin * behind vehicle mph = finish margin in inches

professional(and amateur) bracket racing has evolved on years drivers sport. used consist of trying reaction time hoping car ran near number. drivers avoid breaking out plague, dialing car s .01 faster had ever gone before.

now has turned chess match between 2 drivers, guessing each other s next move. race starts in staging lane ready race, decide dial in put on car. arguably important part of bracket race : making sure can run number . in other words, make sure can go fast dial in says can. has different strategy, strategy has flaws , can beaten; why best strategy 1 includes many different strategies , cannot predicted.

red light , other fouls

if car leaves starting line before green light comes on, foul recorded (a red-light start), , car provisionally disqualified. traditionally, first car foul start shown red light; automatic green light shown in other lane @ appropriate time. starting in 2016 in selected races, new programming function show green light first car, if driver committed foul start. once second driver leaves, driver reaction time worse, provided reaction time negative (meaning foul start), have lane subsequently show red light (left lane -.021 , right lane -.020, red light on left lane only). form of foul cross dividing line between 2 lanes, or line @ edge of racing surface, both of negates red light foul. foul worse break out; 1 car can break out if other car fouls, car breaks out advances next round. if both cars foul, lesser of violations winner; break-out least serious violation, red light, crossing boundary line @ edge of surface, crossing dividing line between lanes, leaving before tree started, , absolute breakout (if car goes faster legal certification limit, , driver not certified in faster car, such top dragster driver going 5.99 seconds in chassis not certified top alcohol dragster , driver s competition licence not top alcohol licence or car certified 7.50 8.99 goes 7.49 seconds, , driver s licence certified cars slower 7.50 seconds; in jr dragster, example, eight-year old driver goes faster age limit of 11.50 in eighth mile).

both cars disqualified in double fouls if both competitors cross either boundary line (edge of surface or dividing lane between lanes). 1 car disqualified if both competitors commit different fouls of other type. both drivers disqualified if leave before tree started, if video evidence can show of 2 drivers left first, first driver disqualifed. in double disqualification in final on boundary lines, first driver cross boundary line tagged.