Editing Drag racing (section)

=== Bracket system ===
Most race events use a traditional [[Bracket (tournament)|bracket]] system, where the losing car and driver are eliminated from the event while the winner advances to the next round, until a champion is crowned. Events can range from 16 to over 100 car brackets. Drivers are typically [[Seed (sports)|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.

A popular alternative to the standard eliminations format is the Chicago Style format (also called the Three Round format in Australia), named for the US 30 Dragstrip near [[Merrillville, Indiana]] where a midweek meet featured this format.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/14381-chicago-once-a-funny-car-heaven|title=Encore Feature: Chicago Once a Funny Car Heaven|publisher=Competition Plus|access-date=21 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506094925/http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/14381-chicago-once-a-funny-car-heaven|archive-date=6 May 2014}}</ref> All entered cars participate in one qualifying round, and then are paired for the elimination round. 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, the National Drag Racing Championship in Australia uses the format for major categories.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationaldragracing.com.au/wp-content/uploads/NDRC-Competitor-Regulations-and-Information-231018_v1.11-1.pdf|title=National Drag Racing Championship Competitor Regulations|publisher=National Drag Racing Championship (Australia)|access-date=29 January 2023}}</ref>