Lane Choice
 

There seems to be some confusion among some of the Stock and Superstock racers concerning "Lane Choice". Back in the days before NHRA came up with the ladder for class eliminations, all sort of cards, straws and all out arguing was used to determine who ran who. The issue today seems who gets to pick the lane they will run in. I have seen old and new racers use the "I qualified higher, so I get to choose the lane". I ran into this again at Indy and talking to other racers, it has occurred to them also. So to set this straight, in the 2018 NHRA Rulebook, under Race Procedures, Section 2, page 7. it states "competing drivers are to determine lane choice by a coin flip or a random-draw lane assignment". Fellow low qualifiers, do not get bullied out of your chance for lane choice. Your follow up comments are welcome. Dyno

Re: Lane Choice
 

My competitors are always eager to flip a coin or just tell me to take any lane. Strangely, I have never been bullied into accepting a certain lane. I eagerly look forward to that day....

Re: Lane Choice
 

Same here.

Re: Lane Choice
 

i like a coin flip or paper scissors rock

Re: Lane Choice
 

If you want to have auto lane choice by qualifying higher or running further under the index - Comp, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman are the classes for you. If you're still in any other sportsman class - better keep a quarter in your pocket!

Re: Lane Choice
 

I am one of the OLDER racers and it has always be a coin flip for lanes.

Bob Lasko

Re: Lane Choice
 

Back in the 90's I would always have a Canadian one dollar coin to flip,we call it a loonie...lol.It looks like a gold coin.When I was down further south and when we flipped,a couple of times I was offered more than it's worth (about 5 bucks).I told them it was a dollar coin but they had to have it.Should have brought more,(not that I went that many rounds to make it profitable)...lol.But to answer the question coin toss for lane choice. gsa612

Re: Lane Choice
 

LOL

Re: Lane Choice
 

I always want to have a coin flip for lane choice. That way there is no problem if if some one wants to change lanes before pulling into the water box.

It's a rule: flip for lanes

Re: Lane Choice
 

Larry,
I always thought folks just asked what lane you were taking, I mean who's arguing with a guy that casts a shadow over them?! ;-)

Have witnessed a few somewhat heated discussions over the years...

Re: Lane Choice
 

I agree with Larry. Just because we may agree on a lane back in the staging lanes, something may happen to want me to change my mind. Without lane choice, it's a source for an argument later on. Usually I will just start the conversation with, "Do you want to flip the coin or call it?" Or if they insist on asking which lane I want, I just say "their lane".
Dan

Re: Lane Choice
 

This is only the second time I've heard something like that. I've never heard of doing it that way. You win the flip, you own the lane. I was told one time that I will let you know what lane I want when I pull around to the water box....uhhhh, no.

Re: Lane Choice
 

The person that has lane choice can change lanes right up until they go into the waterbox. Not sure if it is still in the rulebook or not, but it used to say that the person without lane choice should wait until the other driver pulls into their lane before going forward.
Dan

Re: Lane Choice
 

It seems then, many of the AH races have not been paying attention about how lame choice works at Indy for class elimination. For the last 15 years we have been going to Indy, it has always been faster car gets lame choice.

Upon an incident in the staging lanes during eliminations, one of my crew members asked an official in the staging lanes to call up to the tower and ask race control. Race control stated that faster car gets lane choice. I further went on to ask Bucky Hess about how he determines lanes choice since he has been class racing for a long time; he stated that it has always been fast car gets lane choice. Bucky has been racing Hemi cars before the Dodge/Mopar Hemi Challenge existed at Indy and longer than many of the driver in the class and he determines lane choice exactly how I thought it is done. I have not been the fastest car before and upon that, I was told which lanes my competitor wanted and I took the other lane. This has happen more than once to me as well and I am okay with it. That is how it has been for years.

Now during the regular eliminator, yes, flipping a coin in how lane choice is decided. In the eliminator, most times, you are running a car completely unlike yours, therefore, if you are the faster car it would be unfair to give lane choice to the faster car. However, when class racing, especially in SS/AH, all of the cars are the same and they have the same engine combinations. Thus, the faster car has always gotten lane choice.

There was no bullying that had occurred for lanes choice. If I remember correctly, a coin was flipped and that person won their desired lane. This driver is the only person I have ran into that has thought differently. From the conversation with this driver about lane choice, they came over to me and actually bullied me into flipping a coin in hopes of trying to throw me off and get into my head.

Furthermore, it always seems that someone has something to say about the cars that live in Pennsylvania. Someone is usually constantly make a joke or comment about our cars and trying to attack us in one way or another. Instead, we try to not play into the drama and games but use that as determination and motivation to work on our stuff and make it the best it can possibly be.

Please watch this video from 2016 and fast forward to 3:45. Listen to what the announcer says. https://www.facebook.com/DanielsRaci...9417143500479/

Jealousy seems to play a big role in this class and it is unfortunate.

Thanks

Re: Lane Choice
 

In a race where it is "heads-up" who gets to the finish line first, I think the faster car should have lane choice.
Dan

Re: Lane Choice
 

Race control needs to read their rulebook rather than spout off a rule from memory. It is clearly stated in the 2018 NHRA rulebook in section 2 page 7 about lane choices. Only in the Pros, Alcohol Dragster and Funnycar, Pro Mod, TS and TD, and Comp does lane choice goes to the faster car. "In all other categories, competing drivers are to determine lane choice by a flip of the coin or a randon-draw lane assignment."

If you did not get to flip a coin for lane choice...YOU GOT SCREWED.

Re: Lane Choice
 

With no rulebook or background information on the class, I would expect a heads-up, qualified field race such as the Hemi Shootout or Factory Stock Showdown would determine lane choice by who was qualified higher or quicker in the previous round.

In the eliminator, agreement or coin flip.

Re: Lane Choice
 

I did get a coin toss for the lane choice, but the other camp was not happy about it. I also confirmed with Bruce B, he was in the tear down barn, that the faster racer did NOT get lane choice and a coin toss was the correct call. It all turned out well and just because something was done incorrectly before, does not mean it should continue. This is meant to be informative and not punitive. Congrats to the Daniels/Barton team on their 3rd SS/AH win. Dyno

Re: Lane Choice
 

I flipped a coin one time and the guy called left had I been quick enough I would have said no it's right

Re: Lane Choice
 

I usually try to make my time runs in the more unpopular lane. Typically there is one lane or the other that the majority of the guys want to run. I pick the other and that way I usually get my lane no matter the outcome of the coin toss. I have raced a few one being Mr. Skillman that just said take what ever lane I wanted. He is a real gentleman for sure. I have never had a problem with lane choice with any of the racers I have been paired with. That's why we are called Sportsman.

Re: Lane Choice
 

People ask me what lane do you want? Sometimes I will say you qualified better you choose, but other times I will pick a lane then they cry & say I wanted that lane!!! I feel like saying why did you ask me then??? SMH

Re: Lane Choice
 

I will ask if they are asking so I can have the lane I want or just to find out which lane I want?
Dan

Re: Lane Choice
 

Ask what lane they want, when they say left, say lets flip. When you win, say I'll take right. Good for a laugh every time. The winners win in either lane.

Re: Lane Choice
 

if everyone has 2 fists settle it don't talk about it be about

Re: Lane Choice
 

Our home track, Western Colorado, plays a game of past round reaction time. The racer who had a better reaction in the last round, gets lane choice for the next round. Personaly I dont like it !

Re: Lane Choice
 

that's bs you flip for lanes just like the low qualifier thinks he should get the bye run in class just because he is the fastest well the hell with that he didn't win yet

Re: Lane Choice
 

It was coin flip for lanes and if a bye run the fast car got it.....

If the track was iffy I would say I'll pull out first and you take the lane that I am not in.....

Never had a problem...

EXCEPT...

At Earlville in 2004 I lost the coin flip and the other racer said what lane they wanted and I said OK...

The racer came back from the starting line 2 more times because they kept changing their mind.......

I know that it was a BS head game and rather than have a fist fight, I told them that I would wait until they got into the water before I pulled up...

I didn't mention any names but you know who you are.....

Re: Lane Choice
 

Wow,so it’s not carved in stone something I have to remember.

Re: Lane Choice
 

I know who I am is that in the rule book?

Re: Lane Choice
 

Was it you?????

Re: Lane Choice
 

was it what?????

Re: Lane Choice
 

I always try and run my own race, although I try to beat the racer in the other lane.

Re: Lane Choice
 

if you didn't try to beat the guy in the other lane who would you try to beat?

Re: Lane Choice
 

LoL

Re: Lane Choice
 

you are not any better than I am lane choice is a flip of a coin if you want to discuss come by my pit you will be welcome.

Re: Lane Choice
 

If we're ever at the same race I will look you up, but only if I can bring some beer.

Re: Lane Choice
 

sounds good my friend but I only drink jim beam I will have the wheel standing conv camaro and 67 chevy 2 ss/ga

Re: Lane Choice
 

Well,I raise you a wheel standing nova and ***/ga. Nova.
Look Me Up

Re: Lane Choice
 

The Mad Hawaiian

Re: Lane Choice
 

My opponent always has lane choice. I came to race, not play coin toss etc.