Staging

Staging is the process of carefully positioning a race vehicle at the starting line and activating electronic sensors to signal that the driver is ready to begin a race or timed run.

In drag racing, where the term is most commonly used, staging involves a precise procedure using an electronic starting system called the "Christmas Tree." This tall device features colored lights and infrared beams that help drivers position their cars exactly right before the race begins. When a driver rolls their vehicle forward into the starting area, the front tires break invisible beams of light, triggering specific indicator lights.

The staging process starts when the vehicle's front tire interrupts the first beam, causing the "pre-stage" light to illuminate on the Christmas Tree. This tells the driver they're getting close to the proper starting position. As the driver continues rolling forward slowly, the front tire breaks a second beam, and the "stage" light turns on. At this point, the driver is officially staged and ready to race.

There are different staging techniques that drivers use depending on their strategy. In shallow staging, drivers stop as soon as both lights are on, which gives them slightly more distance before crossing the actual starting line. This technique can help improve their elapsed time—the total time it takes to complete the race. Deep staging involves rolling forward even further until the pre-stage light goes out, positioning the car closer to the finish line. This method can help improve reaction time but increases the risk of a false start.

Proper staging is critical because it directly affects two important performance measurements: reaction time and elapsed time. Reaction time measures how quickly a driver responds when the green light appears, while elapsed time tracks how long it takes to reach the finish line. Consistent staging helps drivers achieve predictable, repeatable results and gather accurate data to improve their performance.

Drag racers also follow staging etiquette. In courtesy staging, one driver lights their pre-stage bulb and waits for their opponent to do the same before both drivers roll into the stage position. This ensures both competitors are ready and the race starts fairly.

Outside of drag racing, staging can refer to different concepts. In NASCAR, for example, "stages" mean something entirely different—they're segments that divide a race into parts, with points awarded to top finishers in each segment. However, when most racing enthusiasts talk about staging, they're referring to the starting line positioning process used in drag racing and other timed motorsport events.