what is the course length for drag racing

by Dr. Elta O'Kon DDS 7 min read

The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most commonly 1⁄4 mi (1,320 ft; 402 m), with a shorter (1,000 ft (305 m)) distance becoming increasingly popular, as it has become the standard for Top Fuel

Top Fuel

Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 335 miles per hour and finishing the 1,000 foot runs in 3.64 seconds.

dragsters and funny cars, where some major bracket races and other sanctioning bodies have adopted it as the standard.

The standard distance of a drag race is 1,320 feet, 402 m, or 1/4 mile( +- 0,2% FIA & NHRA rules). However, due to safety concerns, certain sanctioning bodies (notably the NHRA for its Top Fuel and Funny Car classes) have shortened races to 1,000 feet.

Full Answer

How long is a Drag Race in horse racing?

 · Traditionally, a drag strip is 1,320 feet, which equals a quarter-mile. (One mile equals 5,280 feet.)

How many classes are there in drag racing?

Competitors may choose their own dial for eliminations provided it is not slower than 7.99 seconds (8.19 in Divisions 6 and 7). Eliminations in both …

How long is a drag strip in miles?

The usual drag boat racing length is 1/8 miles and ¼ mile, the most common length is 3/16 mile plus 10 feet. They race over a course of a specific length. Drag boat racing starts from a short rolling start. They cannot pass unless the light turns green.

How far should the finish line be in NHRA drag racing?

 · To get into Sunday's 16-vehicle elimination field, racers must first qualify by posting one of the top-16 elapsed times in one of the four available qualifying sessions. Qualifying typically takes ...

How long is drag racing course?

1/4 miledrag racing, form of motor racing that originated in the United States and in which two contestants race from a standing start side by side on a drag strip—a flat, straight course, most commonly 1/4 mile (0.4 km) long.

What are the classes in drag racing?

The four Professional categories are Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. They, along with Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, the three “Super” classes – Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street – and Pro Mod feature a single class of vehicle in heads-up competition.

What's the fastest 1/4 mile time ever?

Watch Rimac Nevera Go Beyond Plaid: Sets New 1/4 Mile World Record#1 8.74 seconds @ 165.52 mph (without burn out.#2 8.612 seconds @ 166.99 mph (with burn out)Record pass: 8.582 seconds at 167.51 mph (269.5 km/h)

How long is a 1/32 scale drag strip?

Monza is 594 feet in 1:32 scale, and ask if they can see any problem with this sort of thinking . .. .. . oh, and the shortest circuits are usually over a mile in length so your talking about 200 feet of track as an absolute minimum.

What car is best for drag racing?

Forza Horizon 5: 10 Great Cars For Drag Racing & How Much They...8 2019 Rimac Concept Two (S2) ... 7 Koenigsegg Jesko 2020. ... 6 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder (S2) ... 5 2011 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento (S2) ... 4 1965 Hoonigan Ford Hoonicorn Mustang (S2) ... 3 2019 Bugatti Divo (S2) ... 2 Mosler MT900S. ... 1 2011 BMW X5 M Forza Edition (S2)More items...•

What's the fastest drag car?

More videos on YouTubeModel1/4-mile time (seconds)12021 Rimac Nevera8.6 8.72Arrma Limitless Remote Control Car8.63Lamborghini Huracan Tuned by JM-Imports8.94Nissan GT-R (R35) Tuned by JM-Imports 1,600hp8.928 more rows•Mar 18, 2022

How fast is a Tesla in a quarter-mile?

We tested a 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid, and it reached 60 mph in 2.1 seconds on the way to a quarter-mile pass in 9.4 seconds at 151 mph. That 60-mph time ties the Porsche 918 Spyder and 911 Turbo S, and it matches the Bugatti Chiron Sport's quarter-mile time, which is the quickest we've ever measured.

What does a Hellcat run in a quarter-mile?

11.8 secondsThe Hellcat engine is a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 running on 717 horsepower with 656 lb-ft of torque. All this power gets the Hellcat from 0-60 MPH in 3.7 seconds and a quarter mile in 11.8 seconds. It also has an even faster model called the Redeye.

Whats the fastest 0-60 car?

The Koenigsegg Gemera is the world's quickest production car that hits the 0-60 mph mark within 1.9 seconds. It's the very first four-seater by Koenigsegg and the world's first Mega-GT that weighs 4,079 pounds.

How long is a 1/10 scale drag strip?

The track was 132 feet long (scale 1/10) complete timing system with 60 and 660 (6 and 66) foot timers.

How long does a 1/4 mile drag strip need to be?

Traditionally, a drag strip is 1,320 feet, which equals a quarter-mile. (One mile equals 5,280 feet.) Many classes in NHRA drag racing—actually, all but the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes—still compete on a quarter-mile course.

How long is a 1/8th mile drag strip?

i would say around 1500ft should do it for 99% of race cars. i have raced on 1 that's less than 1200ft.

What are the fastest class of drag cars?

Top Fuel DragsterTop Fuel Dragster (TF/D) These are also called the diggers and are the fastest class. Amongst all the faster accelerating machines in the world, these machines can run through the drag strip in less than 3.8 seconds and cross top speeds of over 325mph.

What does RT mean in drag racing?

REACTION TIMEThis is the elapsed time you think your car will run. REACTION TIME (RT) This tells you how quickly you reacted to the green light on the Christmas Tree.

What is Super Pro drag racing?

Super Pro ET is open to full-bodied cars with working doors, Funny Cars, Altereds and Dragsters. Handicap racing based on a driver's personally-chosen dial-in, which may be changed between rounds. The first car to cross the finish line without going quicker than its dial-in is the winner.

How do you become a drag racer?

If you drive during races, you need experience in drag racing. You can gain experience at a racing school or by participating in local drag race events at a sanctioned drag racing track. Mechanics and pit crew members should have a background in auto repair.

How far is a drag race?

The standard distance of a drag race is 1,320 feet, 402 m, or 1/4 mile ( +- 0,2% FIA & NHRA rules). However, due to safety concerns, certain sanctioning bodies (notably the NHRA for its Top Fuel and Funny Car classes) have shortened races to 1,000 feet. Some drag strips are even shorter and run 660 feet, 201 m, or 1/8 mile. The 1,000 foot distance is now also popular with bracket racing, especially in meets where there are 1/8 mile cars and 1/4 mile cars racing together, and is used by the revived American Drag Racing League for its primary classes (not Jr Dragster). Some organizations that deal with Pro Modified and "Mountain Motor" Pro Stock cars (Professional Drag Racers Association) use the 1/8 mile distance, even if the tracks are 1/4 mile tracks.

How many classes are there in drag racing?

There are hundreds of classes in drag racing, each with different requirements and restrictions on things such as weight, engine size, body style, modifications, and many others. NHRA and IHRA share some of these classes, but many are solely used by one sanctioning body or the other.

What is the Chicago style drag race?

The two fastest times among winners from this round participate in the championship round. Depending on the organization, the next two fastest times may play for third, then fifth, and so forth, in consolation rounds. Currently, an IHRA 400 Thunder championship race in Australia uses the format.

What is a breakout rule in drag racing?

In categories where a breakout rule is in effect (for example, NHRA Junior Dragster, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Stock, and Stock classes, as well as some dial-in classes), if a competitor is faster than his or her predetermined time (a "breakout"), that competitor loses.

How many brackets are there in NHRA?

Events can range from 16 to over 100 car brackets . Drivers are typically seeded by elapsed times in qualifying. In bracket racing without a breakout (such as NHRA Competition Eliminator), pairings are based on times compared to their index (faster than index for class is better). In bracket racing with a breakout (Stock, Super Stock, but also the NHRA's Super classes), the closest to the index is favorable.

How does bracket racing affect the race?

The effect of the bracket racing rules is to place a premium on consistency of performance of the driver and car rather than on raw speed, in that victory goes to the driver able to precisely predict elapsed time, whether it is fast or slow. This in turn makes victory much less dependent on budget, and more dependent on skill, making it popular with casual weekend racers.

What is the name of the organization that oversees drag racing?

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) oversees the majority of drag racing events in North America. The next largest organization is the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA). Nearly all drag strips are associated with one sanctioning body or the other.

How long is a drag track?

The length of a drag racing track is, as you can probably guess, a quarter-mile, or 1,320 feet, with each lane measuring 30 feet wide. Here are the various components of the track: 1 Burnout (aka “water”) Box: An area reserved for vehicles to enter that’s been sprayed down with water to help reduce friction as a driver initiates a burnout. 2 Pre-Stage Beam: As each vehicle’s front wheel enters this area, it’ll break the “pre-stage” infrared beam, which triggers the Christmas Tree’s pre-staged lights, alerting drivers that they’re closing in on ‘”staging”. 3 Staged Beam/Starting Line: This is another infrared beam in each lane that controls the starting and timing of the race, triggering an independent lane timer for elapsed time (E.T.) – and unless both drivers are fully staged, the race cannot be started. The staged beam will also trigger a red light if a false start takes place. The staged beam is located just six inches past the pre-staged beam. 4 Interval Timers: There are five intervals along the track where time and speed are recorded, which include: 60-foot, 330-foot, 1/8 th -mile, 1,000-foot and ¼-mile. 5 Speed Traps and Elapsed-Time Clock Beams: The last of the infrared beams are your most important: the first is located 66 feet before the finish line and measures top speed; the second is located at the finish line and shuts off the elapsed time and top speed clocks, triggering the win light. The 66-foot speed trap records top speed.

What is a drag race?

A drag race is initiated by the Christmas Tree, an electronic lighting device that activates a timer by each vehicle, which is then stopped once that same vehicle crosses the finish line.

How does drag racing work?

A drag race is initiated by the Christmas Tree, an electronic lighting device that activates a timer by each vehicle, which is then stopped once that same vehicle crosses the finish line. The time it takes for the vehicle to go from start to finish is what’s known as an elapsed time, (or e.t.), which measures performance and determines handicaps during competition. At a NHRA sanctioned event, you’ll see two types of drag racing: heads-up and handicap. Heads-up racing is pretty straightforward: both cars leave from the starting line at the same time and the first to cross the finish is the winner. In Handicap racing, the goal is predict how many seconds it’ll take for you to get your car to the finish line, then try to run as close to that time as possible without going quicker (aka “breaking out”); the driver who comes closest is the winner. This style of drag racing allows cars of different speeds to race one another because the slower vehicle gets a head start. Sometimes the driver can choose his or her own handicap, which is also known as dialing-in or dialing-under.

Why is drag racing called dialing in?

This style of drag racing allows cars of different speeds to race one another because the slower vehicle gets a head start. Sometimes the driver can choose his or her own handicap, which is also known as dialing-in or dialing-under.

How many intervals are there in a track?

Interval Timers: There are five intervals along the track where time and speed are recorded, which include: 60-foot, 330-foot, 1/8 th -mile, 1,000-foot and ¼-mile.

What does it mean when you have only one red light in a race?

If you’re racing, only one red light will come on, which means the first offender has been eliminated.

How fast can a dragster go?

They are capable of covering the dragstrip in less than 3.7 seconds at more than 330 mph. Powered by a supercharged and fuel-injected 500-cubic-inch adaptation of the famed Chrysler Hemi engine, Top Fuel dragsters can burn up to 15 gallons of nitromethane fuel during a single run. Constructed of chromoly steel tubing and carbon-fiber composite, Top Fuel cars are 25 feet long and weigh 2,330 pounds in race-ready trim.

How much does a top alcohol dragster weigh?

Weights vary according to combination but are generally between 1,975 and 2,125 pounds. Like Top Fuelers, Top Alcohol Dragsters are restricted to a maximum wheelbase of 300 inches. Performances can be in the 5.1s at more than 285 mph.

How fast can a funny car go?

Similar to their Top Fuel counterparts but with a shorter wheelbase and a carbon-fiber body that loosely resembles a production-based automobile, Funny Cars can run in the 3.8-second range and are capable of speeds in excess of 330 mph. Funny Cars are powered by the same supercharged and fuel-injected 500-inch engines as Top Fuel dragsters. Funny Cars are also similar to Top Fuel dragsters in that they do not use a transmission but rather transmit power to the huge Goodyear rear slicks through a multistage clutch assembly that is activated by timers.

How fast can a pro mod go?

The engine choices are equally as diverse; competitors can use superchargers, turbochargers, or nitrous-oxide injection and can run into the high-five-second zone at speeds of more than 250 mph. Pro Mod drivers compete at 10 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series events.

How much does a super street car weigh?

All vehicles must be full-bodied cars and weigh no less than 2,800 pounds except for six-cylinder cars, which may have a minimum weight of 2,000 pounds, and four-cylinder- and rotary-powered cars (1,200 pounds). Engine and chassis modifications are virtually unlimited. Racers compete on a five-tenths Pro Tree.

How fast do Nitro motorcycles go?

These riders traverse the quarter-mile at breathtaking speeds of well more than 200 mph. Their bikes are started before they get on top of them because of the violent nature of the 1,500-hp, fire-breathing machines.

How wide are rear slick tires?

Tires are limited to a maximum 9-inch-wide rear slick. Engines must be correct for the make and model vehicle and must retain stock cylinder heads, intake manifold, and carburetor. Modifications are limited to a basic balancing and rebuild with only a few performance enhancements.

What is drag boat racing?

Drag boat racing, is a type of drag racing which is held on water. Just like drag racing, participants race their water vehicles for the lowest elapses time, also called low ET.

What is Jetsprint racing?

Jetsprint ( Sprint Boat Racing) - a high-speed boat racing sport in which a team of two riders, race through a course by themselves in a time-trial format.

How many horsepower does a drag race have?

In addition to being a concert of as much as 20,000 combined horsepower, a drag race pairs two vehicles, including dragsters, cars, and motorcycles in a tournament-style elimination contest.

Why do racers score holeshots?

Because each lane is timed independently, a racer can score what is known as a holeshot win, advancing with a slower elapsed time but a better reaction time. Again, it's all about who gets to the finish line first, like in the below video: Video Player is loading. Play Video. Play.

What is bracket drag 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.

How fast is the US 131?

At some tracks, speed (in miles per hour) is also recorded. US 131 also has timers at 330 and 1,000 foot intervals. THE TREE. Getting a good reaction time at the starting line (better known as cutting a light) all starts with the Christmas Tree.

What is a tree in racing?

In simple terms, the Tree is a set of vertical lights that gives the driver a visual countdown to the start of a race. The lights are as follows, from top: PRE-STAGE INDICATOR LIGHTS.

Is top speed a factor in bracket racing?

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 difference between the two.

Why did the NHRA race track length decrease?

Every year since NHRA decreased the distance from 1,320 to 1,000 feet, a vocal number of fans have asked for the original racing length be reinstated.Of course, the reason for the decrease in length in the first place was the tragic 2008 accident that killed Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey.

How far can nitro cars run?

Only the Nitro cars – Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars – run just 1,000 feet. Every other class of racing, including Pro Stock, sportsmen and alcohol classes – still runs at the original distance of 1,320 feet.

How far can we push things back?

But given the development of modern safety products such as steel nets and the like, have we finally gotten to a point where there indeed is more than enough adequate safety devices that we can push things back to 1,320 feet ? Whenever this topic is brought up, there is a large minority of old school or traditional fans that scream and holler “YES!”

Is drag racing a race?

Many of them have likely been fans of the sport for 20, 30, 40 or more years. And many of them believe a drag race is not a race until every class, including Top Fuel and Funny Car, competes at the same length.

How far is the Street Outlaw race?

This week would appear to have marked the end of an era in small-tire drag racing, as the NMRA (and presumably the NMCA) have announced changes in the race distance for the popular Street Outlaw category, moving from the full quarter-mile to an eighth-mile contest in an effort to draw in additional competitors from the 275 radial tire ranks.

Who ran the best quarter mile in NMRA?

The (unofficial) record books will show that Phil Hines closed out the quarter-mile era in NMRA Street Outlaw with the best run of 6.80-seconds, while Eric Gustafson did the deed on the NMCA side with his 6.82 mere days before the reveal of the mid-season rules adjustments.

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Overview

Basics of drag racing

Push starts to get engines running were necessary until the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) mandated self-starters in 1976. After burnouts, cars would be pushed back by crews; this persisted until NHRA required reversing systems in 1980. Don Garlitswas the first to do burnouts across the starting line, which is now standard practice. Each driver then backs up to and stages at the starting …

History

Drag racing started in the 1940s. World War II veterans were prominently involved, and some early drag races were done at decommissioned aircraft bases with landing strips that made them an ideal place for the sport. In 1951, Wally Parks formed the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The organization banned the use of nitromethane in 1957, calling it unsafe, in part through the efforts of C. J. Hart; the ban would be lifted in 1963.

Racing organizations

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) oversees the majority of drag racing events in North America. The next largest organization is the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA). Nearly all drag strips are associated with one sanctioning body or the other.
Besides NHRA and IHRA, there are niche organizations for muscle cars and no…

Classes

There are hundreds of classes in drag racing, each with different requirements and restrictions on things such as weight, engine size, body style, modifications, and many others. NHRA and IHRAshare some of these classes, but many are solely used by one sanctioning body or the other. The NHRA boasts over 200 classes, while the IHRA has fewer. Some IHRA classes have multiple sub-clas…

Dial-in

A 'dial-in' is a time the driver estimates it will take his or her car to cross the finish line, and is generally displayed on one or more windows so the starter can adjust the starting lights on the tree accordingly. The slower car will then get a head startequal to the difference in the two dial-ins, so if both cars perform perfectly, they would cross the finish line dead even. If either car goes faster th…

Historic cars

• 1954 — first slingshot, built by Mickey Thompson; Smokin' White Owl built by "Ollie" Morris, first purpose-built rear-engined dragster and first to use a Chevrolet V8 engine.
• 1962 — the Greer–Black–Prudhomme dragster, with the best win record in NHRA history.

Glossary

• Back half – the second half of a track, e.g. from the 1/8 mile to mark to the 1,000 foot or 1/4 mile mark for a standard track
• Beam – electronic device (e.g. an optical beam) at the starting line to detect a car's staging position
Big tire – Car with a set of rear tires taller than 28.5 inches tall and or wider than 12.5 inches of tread. Car may have modifications to the rear frame rails and suspension system to allo…

• Back half – the second half of a track, e.g. from the 1/8 mile to mark to the 1,000 foot or 1/4 mile mark for a standard track
• Beam – electronic device (e.g. an optical beam) at the starting line to detect a car's staging position
• Big tire – Car with a set of rear tires taller than 28.5 inches tall and or wider than 12.5 inches of tread. Car may have modifications to the rear frame rails and suspension system to allow the large tires to fit under the car. Compare Small tire.

What Is Drag Racing?

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A drag race is a competition between two vehicles racing side by side in a straight line for a distance of a quarter-mile (sometimes it’s an eighth-mile), held on a monitored drag strip/racetrack – and in most scenarios, whoever makes it to the finish line first wins. At a drag racing event, there are a series of individual matchu…
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The Track

  • The length of a drag racing track is, as you can probably guess, a quarter-mile, or 1,320 feet, with each lane measuring 30 feet wide. Here are the various components of the track: 1. Burnout (aka “water”) Box: An area reserved for vehicles to enter that’s been sprayed down with water to help reduce friction as a driver initiates a burnout. 2. Pre-...
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Ooh, Pretty Lights – What Do They Mean?

  • As you creep up to the staged beams, or starting line, you’ll see these lights. From top to bottom, here’s what each represents: Full Tree: On this configuration, three amber lights will flash consecutively for five-tenths of a second apart, with a green starting light five-tenths later. A perfect reaction time on a Full Tree is .000. Pre-Stage: These yellow lights will alert you as you a…
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E.T. Racing

  • One form of drag racing you’ve probably heard of is E.T. bracket racing, a more handicapped version which puts two vehicles of varying performance levels against one another on a more “even” playing field. Essentially, both vehicle’s elapsed times are compared, then the slower car is given a head start that’s equal to the difference of the two. This allows any two vehicles to be (h…
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