
Launching, a top fuel dragster will accelerate at 4.5 g, and when braking parachutes are deployed the deceleration is 4 g, more than the Space Shuttle experiences. A top fuel car can be heard over 8 miles (13 km) away and generates a reading of 1.5 to 2 on the Richter scale.
Drag racing is two cars head-to-head, the winner proceeding to the next round. Professional classes are all first to the finish line wins. Sportsman racing is handicapped slower car getting a head start using an index a lowest e.t. allowed, and cars running under quicker than their index break out and lose. The slowest cars, bracket racers, are also handicapped, but rather than an index, they use a dial-in. Bracket racing has been viewed as the main cause of the loss of public interest in drag racing. People don't understand why the slower car wins or why somebody needs to hit the brakes to avoid going too fast.
Many local tracks have also complained that bracket racers will also go out of their way to spend as little as possible while at the track by bringing their own food, beverages, fuel and supplies thus, making it more difficult for tracks to make money on these events. This causes gate prices to rise and tracks losing interest in having such events.