Breakout

A breakout in motorsport occurs when a driver completes a race faster than their predicted "dial-in" time in bracket racing, resulting in a loss unless their opponent commits a more serious violation.

In drag racing's bracket format, drivers must declare their expected elapsed time (ET) before competing. This handicap system allows vehicles of different performance levels to race fairly. The dial-in time is displayed on the car, and the starting lights are staggered to compensate for performance differences.

For example, if a driver dials in at 12.00 seconds but finishes in 11.95 seconds, they've broken out and typically lose the race. If both drivers break out, the one closest to their dial-in time wins. This rule rewards consistency and strategy rather than just raw speed.