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NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES
NHRA NATIONAL EVENT ‘CHRISTMAS TREE’
STARTING LINE SYSTEM
pre-stage indicator lights
stage indicator lights
three amber starting system
green light
red light
PRE-STAGE INDICATOR LIGHTS: Warns racers that they are approaching the starting line
and the “staged” position.
STAGE INDICATOR LIGHTS: Signal racers that they are on the starting line and ready for a
run. These lights are turned on when the front wheels of the race vehicle interrupt the beam
from a light source to the photo cells that also triggers the timing equipment when the
vehicle leaves the light beams
THREE-AMBER STARTING SYSTEM: NHRA implemented the use of LED amber lights on the
Christmas Tree starting system prior to the 2003 season. LED lights were utilized in place of
incandescent lights because the vibration from the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes caused
the incandescent bulbs to burn out.
GREEN LIGHT: This is the one that makes it happen. Once the green light is flashed, the
driver in that lane is free to make a run. Any time a green light is shown in a driver’s lane it
indicates that a fair start was accomplished.
RED LIGHT: When a car leaves the starting line before the green light comes on, or, in
some cases, is staged too deep into the staging beams, the red light will flash in that lane.
It indicates that the driver in that lane has been disqualified. During competition only one
red light will illuminate for the purpose of indicating the elimination of the first offender in
the case of both driver’s leaving before the green light or staging too deep into the staging
beams.
PRO TREE: Used in NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. All three amber/LED lights flash
simultaneously before the green lights come on. The system runs with a four-tenths
difference between the amber and green lights. A perfect reaction time is .000.
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