Timeslip

A timeslip is a printed receipt that drag racers receive after completing a run down the track, showing detailed performance data including their speed, elapsed time, and reaction time.

Think of a timeslip as a report card for your drag racing pass. Just like a receipt you get at a store, this small piece of paper prints out automatically after each run and contains all the important numbers from that race. For drag racers, whether they're professionals or weekend warriors, the timeslip is one of the most valuable tools they have for understanding how well their car performed.

The most important number on a timeslip is the elapsed time, often called ET. This tells you exactly how long it took your vehicle to travel from the starting line to the finish line, typically measured over a quarter-mile distance (though some tracks use an eighth-mile). The faster your ET, the better your performance.

Another critical measurement is reaction time, which shows how quickly you responded when the starting lights turned green. In drag racing, the perfect reaction time is 0.500 seconds. React too quickly and you'll trigger a red light, which disqualifies you from that run. This timing can often determine who wins a close race, even if one car is slightly slower overall.

The timeslip also includes your trap speed, which is your vehicle's speed as it crosses the finish line. This number helps racers understand how much power their engine is producing. Interestingly, trap speed is actually measured 66 feet before the finish line using secondary timers.

Launch performance is captured through the 60-foot time, which measures how long it takes to cover the first 60 feet of track. This number tells racers how well their car is hooking up and launching off the starting line. Poor 60-foot times often indicate traction problems or issues with the car's suspension setup.

Additional interval times are also recorded at 330 feet, 660 feet (the eighth-mile mark), and 1,000 feet. These intermediate measurements help racers diagnose specific problems with their setup or driving technique at different points along the track.

Racers study their timeslips carefully between runs, comparing numbers to identify areas for improvement. They might adjust tire pressure, fine-tune their engine, or modify their driving technique based on what the data reveals. Many serious racers keep collections of their timeslips to track progress over time and compare performance under different conditions.

In head-to-head racing, the timeslip also shows the margin of victory, indicating how far ahead the winner crossed the finish line. This measurement becomes especially important in bracket racing, where drivers must avoid "breaking out" by going faster than their predicted time.