Timeslip

A timeslip is a printed receipt that drag racers receive after completing a run down the track, showing detailed performance data about their vehicle's speed and timing.

Think of a timeslip like a report card for your drag racing run. Just as a report card shows how well you did in different subjects, a timeslip breaks down exactly how your car performed during those few seconds of racing. Every driver gets one after their run, whether they won or lost.

The most important number on your timeslip is the elapsed time, or ET. This tells you how long it took your car to travel from the starting line to the finish line. In drag racing, this is usually measured over a quarter-mile distance, though some tracks use an eighth-mile.

Your reaction time is another key piece of data. This measures how quickly you responded when the green light came on. A perfect reaction time is 0.500 seconds, and going faster than this results in a red light, which means you're disqualified for leaving too early.

The timeslip also shows your trap speed, which is how fast you were going when you crossed the finish line. This number helps racers understand their engine's power output and overall performance potential.

Incremental times appear as well, showing your elapsed time at specific points along the track. Common measurements include 60 feet, 330 feet, and 660 feet (which is the eighth-mile mark). These numbers help drivers identify which part of the track they're performing well on and where they might need improvement.

Professional drag racers study their timeslips carefully between runs, looking for patterns and areas to improve. The data helps them make adjustments to their driving technique, tire pressure, or engine tuning for better performance on their next pass down the track.