Track is making up rules

[Bret Kepner]

For those who are confused, Phil is not talking about a dial-in or an index. He is discussing the "top and bottom" of the elapsed time "breaks" for a given eliminator.

As an example, many tracks offer Super Pro Eliminator "breaks" of 6.50 seconds to 11.99 seconds indicating the minimum and maximum permitted dial-ins. Phil is describing a Sportsman Eliminator "top break", (minimum dial-in), of 12.00 seconds. In this scenario, he was dialed "at the break" of 12.00 and won a double-breakout race, (or ran all-out on a single), with an 11.99 or quicker.

This has been the only real "rule" in bracket racing performance since the genre was created in the early 1960s. While the class "breaks" vary between tracks, the minimum dial-in has always been the only dividing line between eliminator categories. A handful of tracks do offer warnings but most simply disqualify the driver who "walks the tightrope" by dialing on the "break" and slipping. Ironically, I find this rule almost universally in place at non-sanctioned tracks.

The NHRA and IHRA have a "courtesy rule" in the Junior Dragster ranks in which the first violation is overlooked but, when racing "big cars", you take your chances. It's all part of the game.

Anybody who races at a track which allows two violations in one day is lucky. The fact you still get one free ride is extremely rare and, Phil, you should be grateful for it. Most folks would simply be shown the gate.