A 4-Lane Drag Race or an Entertainment Show?

[Bowler]

I’ve just (tried to) read the results from the NHRA event in Charlotte at the weekend

Now, for the numpty that I am, can someone please explain to me WTF this 4-lane thing was all about

I’m prepared to be flamed here but I thought that the whole point of a drag race is that the first to stripe wins. Normally 2 cars, but if there are 4 then the same rule applies doesn’t it? Yet, the thing I can’t get my head round is the fact that both the (Nitro) winners of the event were beaten in earlier rounds

Accordingly, with 16 qualifiers, there are 4 winners from round 1 and one final.

What am I missing? Was it lane 1 vs lane 2 and lane 3 vs lane 4? Yet, if this was the case, then why only 3 rounds of eliminations? Was it the case of the fastest 2 go through each round, until the final? If so, why? Once your out, your out, aren't you?

4 lane racing must be a great spectacle to view in person, but are the NHRA (or the track) going to far by making this a freak spectacle?

How the fk is a casual observer like me supposed to get my head round this?

Why do the NHRA have to make things so complicated?

Edited by Bowler on Tuesday 30th March 21:41

[DWphil]

Hopefully its just a gimmick and will only be once a year although there are rumours that Las Vegas will be 4 lane. Its hard enough trying to watch both cars in a normal race but 4 at a time ..impossible.

1000 foot now 4 lane , what next?

[TheMighty]

The rules are that the quickest 2 from each 4 go through to the next round, which in my opinion makes a bit of an ass of running a ladder as we know it because #1 will meet #16 plus #8 and #9 etc. This means that both number 1 and number 16 could go through if 16 happens to really turn up the wick knocking out both 8 and 9. Of course it also means that you can lose both 1 and 16 from the field if 16 runs to form and 1 goes up in smoke. Its still possible for 1,2,3 and 4 to meet in the final obviously and thats why the ladder is still structured as such. The final is made up of four cars hence the eliminations are 1 round shorter than usual, the teams have one less turnaround to do and everyone goes home even earlier.

From the gimmick point of view I have to agree. It seems that all of a sudden they're following the IHRA business model!

Next thing they'll be having monster trucks, drifting, freestyle motocross and Peter sodding Andre!

I wish we were just allowed to love drag racing - 2 lanes, a 1/4 mile... altogether now *sing* - "We're all in this together..."