Deep Staging

Deep staging is a drag racing technique where a driver rolls their car forward past the normal starting position to get as close as possible to the starting line before the race begins.

In drag racing, drivers use an electronic starting system called the Christmas Tree to know when to launch. This system uses invisible beams of light that detect where the front tires of the car are positioned. When a driver first rolls up to the starting line, their front tires break the first beam, which turns on the "pre-stage" light. Rolling forward a bit more breaks the second beam and turns on the "stage" light, meaning the driver is properly positioned and ready to race.

Deep staging happens when a driver continues rolling forward after both lights are already on. They keep inching ahead until the pre-stage light turns off, which means they've moved past that first beam. At this point, the car is positioned several inches closer to the finish line than it would be with normal staging.

The main reason drivers use deep staging is to improve their reaction time at the start. Since the car is already closer to the starting line, it crosses the timing beam sooner after the green light appears. This can make it look like the driver reacted more quickly, even though they may have left at the same moment as someone who staged normally.

Some racers also deep stage to make their car launch more gently. By being closer to the line with less room to build momentum, the car may spin its tires less at the start, which can help with traction on certain track conditions.

However, deep staging comes with significant risks. The biggest danger is committing a red light foul, which happens when a driver leaves before the green light appears. Since the car is already positioned so far forward, even a tiny roll or bump can cause it to break the starting beam too early, resulting in automatic disqualification from that race.

Another drawback is that deep staging can actually make your overall time to the finish line slower. While you might cross the starting line sooner, you have less distance to accelerate and build speed before the timing clocks begin recording your elapsed time.

Deep staging is most popular in bracket racing, a type of drag racing where drivers try to run consistent times rather than simply going as fast as possible. In bracket racing, predictable performance matters more than raw speed, making the technique more valuable.

Different racing organizations have varying rules about deep staging. Some tracks require drivers to announce their intention to deep stage before the race, while others may restrict or prohibit the practice entirely. Always check the specific rules at your track before attempting this technique.