ó A drag-racing event is made up of a series of individual two-car races called eliminations, with competing machines divided into a variety of classes. Class eligibility is governed by criteria that limit engine size, type of fuel, vehicle weight, allowable modifications and aerodynamics.

   The main object is to get to the finish line first, which may not necessarily be the quickest time or fastest speed. Sound confusing? It really isn't.

   A set of lights, commonly called a "Christmas Tree," is used at the starting line. There is a 0.4-second difference between the flash of all the amber lights and the flash of the green light in the "pro start" system. In handicap racing, the amber lights illuminate individually, with a 0.5-second difference between the last amber and the green. Any time a driver leaves the line before the green, the red light illuminates to signal a foul. The offending driver is disqualified.

   Sometimes a driver can win despite a slower elapsed time and speed than the opponent. That's because the winning driver had a quicker reaction time to the green light at the starting line, and that advantage was greater than the opponent's performance advantage on the track. Remember, the elapsed-time clock in each lane doesn't start until the car moves.

   Handicap racing allows drivers in slower cars to compete on an equal basis with quicker and faster machines. The anticipated elapsed times for each vehicle are compared, and the slower car receives an advantage at the start equal to the difference between the cars' anticipated E.T.'s. For example, a car with a "dial-in" of 17.75 will have a 2.5-second head start over a car with a "dial-in" of 15.25.

   In all cases but one, the car that gets to the finish line first wins. Here's the exception: In a double-breakout situation, where both cars run quicker than their "dial-in" index, the car with the lowest time is disqualified. For instance, if a car breaks out at 10.854 as compared to a car that breaks out at 10.855, the car running at 10.854 is the loser.

   National records are kept for elapsed time and speed in all classes. A driver may have the quickest time or fastest speed in history in a certain class but not set the national record. That's because NHRA rules require a record run be backed up with another run within 1 percent of the record time or speed to be considered a record. For example, Cory McClenathan entered the 1998 season with the speed na-tional record of 321.77 mph from the Revell Nationals in October 1997. McClenathan backed up his record speed at the event with a speed of 319.03 mph, within 1 percent. Joe Amato recorded the quickest elapsed time in NHRA history, 4.558 and 4.603-- within 1 percent of 4.558 -- during that event and didn't set an elapsed-time national record.

   After considering the wide variety of mechanical differences in the vehicles competing in the sport, and taking into account the differences in the talent level of the drivers, the NHRA has established more than 220 individual classifications for the 1998 season.

   These classifications are grouped into basic eliminator categories, complemented by a less-structured program of E.T. handicap brackets that are the foundation of the sportsman racing programs at local NHRA-member tracks across North America.

   While local tracks can establish guidelines for bracket competition, regulations for the 12 basic eliminator categories are strictly governed by the NHRA -- the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body. These 13 categories are: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Federal-Mogul Dragster, Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Competition, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street.

   Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck and Pro Stock Motorcycle comprise the five professional categories of NHRA competition. Those categories feature a single type of race car or motorcycle.

   Top Fuel is drag racing's top-of-the-line category. These 5,500-horsepower, nitromethane-burning dragsters are the quickest-accelerating machines on earth. They are powered by supercharged, custom-built, 500-cubic-inch engines mounted behind the driver and are capable of covering a quarter-mile from a standing start in less than five seconds at 300-plus mph. Entering the 1998 season, the quickest and fastest runs are 4.558 seconds and 321.77 mph, respectively.

   Two parachutes, which are activated by a hand control inside the cockpit of a Top Fuel dragster, are the car's primary braking system. The minimum weight of a Top Fuel dragster, including the driver, is 2,100 pounds.

   Funny Cars are short-wheelbased cars with a fiberglass replica of a production car body. The engines are identical to those that power Top Fuel machines, with one noticeable difference-- they are located in front of the driver. The minimum weight of a Funny Car, including the driver, is 2,325 pounds.

   These machines are capable of elapsed times quicker than five seconds and top speeds faster than 300 mph. Entering the 1998 season, the quickest time and fastest speed in a Funny Car are 4,889 seconds and 315.56 mph, respectively.

   Pro Stock cars, while retaining a close resemblance to their "show-room" counterparts, feature extensive engine modifications, sophisticated chassis and suspension development, a maximum 500-cubic-inch engine displacement and a minimum vehicle weight of 2,350 pounds, including driver. Pro Stock cars must be 1993 or newer two-door coupes or sedans. All cars use carburetors and burn gasoline as fuel. Entering the 1998 season, the all-time best NHRA performance marks for these Oldsmobile, Dodge, Pontiac, Ford and Chevrolet entries are a 6.883-second elapsed time and a 200.53-mph top speed.

   The Pro Stock Truck category is reserved for 1996 or later domestic or foreign pickups of extended cab, midsize (Dodge Dakota, Chevrolet S-10, Ford Ranger, etc.) design powered by carbureted, gasoline-burning engines. The top times and speeds are 7.700 seconds and 175.26 mph, respectively, entering the 1998 season. Much like the Pro Stock car category, these trucks retain a close resemblance to their "showroom" counterparts. The trucks feature extensive engine modifications, sophisticated chassis and suspension development, a maximum vehicle weight of 2,300 pounds, including driver. Sixteen trucks qualify for eliminations. But to create a "brand-against-brand" form of racing, the first 12 spots always will consist of the four quickest Chrysler, Ford and Gen-eral Motors trucks ordered by their best qualifying time. The last four spots will be wild-card spots, filled by the four quickest trucks outside of the top 12, regardless of manufacturer.

   The Pro Stock Motorcycle category is reserved for 1988 or newer stock-appearing, carbureted, gasoline-burning machines. The top times and speeds are 7.290 seconds and 188.40 mph, respectively, entering the 1998 season. The minimum weight for a bike and rider is 550 pounds for Harley-Davidson V-Twin riders; 600 pounds for all others.

   Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars are alcohol-burning (methanol) relatives to the nitro-powered Top Fuel and Funny Car machines. They have an uncanny likeness to their "big brothers" and are the featured attractions in the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.

   Dragsters powered by nitromethane may compete in the Federal-Mogul Dragster category if they do not have a supercharger.

   The minimum weight of a Federal-Mogul Dragster is 1,700 pounds. The minimum weight of a Federal-Mogul Funny Car is 2,000 pounds.

   Competition Eliminator showcases a wide variety of vehicles including gas-burning dragsters, altereds and supercharged gas coupes and sedans. This very popular sportsman category uses a handicap starting system to equalize the racing.

   Super Stock is one of NHRA's most competitive categories. It features stock-appearing foreign and domestic factory-produced vehicles with limited modifications allowed. Eighty classes for both manual and automatic transmission entries are provided for under the rules. Older engine/drivetrain combinations are allowed in newer models as long as the same combination is used in matching the vehicle manufacturer with the engine/drivetrain setup. Handicap starts are used to equalize competition.

   The Stock category is reserved for 1960-or-newer production cars, pickup trucks and some sports cars. Very few modifications or alterations are allowed. It's a popular entry level into drag racing, and it also uses a handicap starting system.

   Super Comp showcases gas-burning dragsters, roadsters and production cars running on an 8.90-second index with heads-up, pro starts. No run below 8.90 seconds is allowed, and a minimum vehicle weight of 1,350 pounds with driver (except four- and six-cylinder cars, 1,000 pounds) is re-quired.

   The Super Gas category is reserved for full-bodied cars with fenders, hoods, grilles, windshields and functional doors. Roadsters also are eligible. Typi-cal entries include modern-day Camaros, early-model Corvettes and vintage English Ford Anglias. This category runs on a pro, heads-up start with a 9.90-second index (no run below 9.90 seconds is allowed). Minimum weight, in-cluding driver is 2,100 pounds, except four-cylinder cars, which have a minimum of 1,200 pounds.

   Super Street is similar to the Super Gas category and features full-bodied production cars with full fenders, hood, grille, top, windshield and functional doors. This category, featured in NHRA divisional racing and some na-tional events, calls for a 10.90-second index with no break-out allowed below 10.90 seconds. A pro, heads-up starting format is used. Minimum weight for eight-cylinder cars is 2,800 pounds; six-cylinder cars, 2,000 pounds; four-cylinder and rotary cars, 1,200 pounds.

   The wide variety of classifications in NHRA Winston Drag Racing assures an exciting weekend of racing for fans and drivers. Whether it is the speed, the vehicle appearance or the passion for the automobile, NHRA Winston Drag Racing provides a showcase for everyone's favorite type of car.

This story was published in the National Hot Rod Association Media Guide.