Leaving before Tree question

[Pistol Pete]

Years ago at the Englishtown Nationals a Super Stock racer rolled the beams on a bye run and was DQ’ed. He didn’t come back for the next Rd.

[sst5167]

It's interesting to me that I come across this topic now. This is something I have never been clear on. Just this past weekend at the Sonoma Div race, I had the bye in the super gas semi's. Instead of taking the chance, and not having a clear understanding of the rule, I staged the car, watched the tree drop, then got on the chip and let go. I was 1.150 on the tree. I wasn't willing to take any chances. I've been doing this a long time, and feel kind of dumb for not having a clear understanding of the rule.

[BKSG1198]

Originally Posted by sst5167

It's interesting to me that I come across this topic now. This is something I have never been clear on. Just this past weekend at the Sonoma Div race, I had the bye in the super gas semi's. Instead of taking the chance, and not having a clear understanding of the rule, I staged the car, watched the tree drop, then got on the chip and let go. I was 1.150 on the tree. I wasn't willing to take any chances. I've been doing this a long time, and feel kind of dumb for not having a clear understanding of the rule.

Mike,
First off congrats on the win at Sonoma. Awesome car, might rank pretty close to Justin Lopes car as one of my favorites out there.
That's my deal, not trying to get anyone in trouble or point fingers at anyone just wanted an answer as to what is right and wrong. I mean right now the guy that got DQ'ed at the race sits #2 in points for my series only 1 round out from first. We still have 4 races to go and a lot of racing left to do so anything could change but, would hate to see a championship get decided like that. As you can see from the posts here, it's pretty split, some say he's good, others say its a DQ. Just would be nice to have a clear cut answer so when 2020 comes around and the rules are set for the series we can implement that and were all on the same page.

[Keith 944]

Why don’t you ask Dave ley?

[BKSG1198]

I did and he said it’s up to the starter or if they had a timing issue that is why they were let back in. Heck a guy at MIR this weekend had a bye run, never went forward, went backwards (cut a .000 light) and was in next round...lol

[Wild Wild West]

Here is my opinion (and you know what they say about opinions), on a bye run a LBTA should be treated no different than a red light. The only difference is that on a bye run red light, you won't see it on the tree if the tree is set properly. Having the bye run means that you have "won" or automatically advanced into the next round, UNLESS you cross the center line or outer boundaries or crash. Again, that's just my opinion.
Advancement or DQ would be fine as long as that rule is known by everyone before hand.
If you are ever in that situation and want to make a full run or hit the tree and are not sure of the rule, just put 1 or 2 seconds more in the delay box and go for it.

[voltdr]

This is from the 2019 NHRA Rulebook.

SINGLE RUNS
In situations where a driver is making a single run, he or she
is considered the winner once he or she stages and receives
the start signal or is declared the winner by the official starter.
If a competitor crosses the boundary line on a single run, the
elapsed time is voided for lane-choice determination

Dan

[BKSG1198]

I spoke to a few racers this weekend who told me that once the person stages and as long as no one is in the other lane then they can break the beam even if the tree never activated. It’s called the John force rule as I guess this happened to him previously. Obviously, it’s still a very very gray area with some tracks and racers. I know it happened this weekend at Atco in TAFC. A driver got a bye after his opponent broke on the burnout, he took the tree and hit the 330 cone, even his team thought they got DQed and were bummed till they were told because nobody was I. The other lane they were clear and onto the next round.

[Rich Biebel]

I wanted to add....

Earlier it was said that if you LBTA you were in violation of going down track when the starter did not clear you to. That would get you DQ'ed possibly..

Well once you are given the signal to do a burnout and stage the only way the starter is going to stop you from continuing is to hit the flashing reds on the tree and then walk out to motion you to hold or back up.....

You're not in violation of anything if you were cleared to burnout and stage.....and not signaled in some way to NOT attempt to take the tree....

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by voltdr

This is from the 2019 NHRA Rulebook.

SINGLE RUNS
In situations where a driver is making a single run, he or she
is considered the winner once he or she stages and receives
the start signal or is declared the winner by the official starter.
If a competitor crosses the boundary line on a single run, the
elapsed time is voided for lane-choice determination.

I don't know that this rule clears anything up. I assume the start signal is one (or more) of the amber lights flashing on the tree, but the 'or' muddies it all up. It basically is just the starter's call but there is no basis given for how the starter would decide that.