First or Worse

First or Worse is a drag racing rule that determines the winner when both drivers commit fouls during the same race, with victory going to whoever made the less serious mistake or committed their foul later in time.

In drag racing, drivers can make various mistakes like leaving the starting line too early (called a "red light") or crossing into their opponent's lane. When only one driver fouls, they automatically lose. But when both drivers make mistakes in the same race, officials need a way to pick a winner.

The First or Worse rule works in two ways. If both drivers commit the exact same type of foul, whoever did it first loses the race. For example, if both drivers jump the start and trigger red lights, the person who red-lighted first is disqualified while their opponent wins.

However, if the drivers commit different types of fouls, the person who made the more serious mistake loses. Drag racing organizations rank different infractions by severity, with some fouls considered much worse than others.

The hierarchy typically puts crossing the center line or hitting a wall as the most serious offenses, since these create safety hazards. A red light start usually ranks as moderately serious, while a "breakout" (running faster than your predicted time in handicap racing) is often considered the least severe infraction.

For instance, if one driver commits a red light while their opponent crosses the center line, the center line violation is considered worse, so that driver loses despite the red light happening first. This ensures races have clear winners even when both competitors make errors.

The specific ranking of fouls can vary between different racing organizations and event types, but the basic First or Worse principle remains consistent across most drag racing competitions. This rule helps maintain fair competition and clear results in a sport where split-second timing and precision are crucial.