Track Rules - 2025
NOTICE
It is the responsibility of participants, not NHRA or any Coles County Dragway USA track representative to ensure that all safety equipment is approved and is correctly installed, worn, maintained and used.
1) All NHRA rules apply and are the minimum for competition and safety standards. We will follow those rules and the following rules in an effort to provide a safe, fair and fun racing program.
2) A responsible, professional, and sportsmanlike behavior is expected of all racers and crew members. Crew members are the responsibility of the racer. Abusive or aggressive behavior towards any track official or employee will not be tolerated, and can result in but is not limited to disqualification.
3) All cars must go through a technical inspection before any passes are made. Tech must be done by an SFI certified employee/representative of Coles County Dragway USA, or must present a NHRA Extended Technical Inspection (ETI) card. NO EXCEPTIONS.
4) Staging Lanes:
a) All cars are asked to promptly heed the class call.
b) Time runs--When the last pair is on the apron, the lanes are then closed for that session. One time run per class session is the maximum, unless designated by a track official. If you miss your class session, it is the staging lane director’s discretion if you are allowed to make it up.
c) Eliminations -- the first class call will be no earlier than 5 minutes from when the last car in that class has run. Five minutes later will be the second and final class call.
5) Buy Backs:
a) A racer in Super Pro (S/P), Box, (BOX), Pro (PRO), No-Box (NBX), Sportsman (SPT), Novice Street (NS), Bike, High School (HS) or Powder Puff (PP) who loses in the first AND/OR second round are eligible for buy back/s.
b) Buy Back Racers will be rolled in with winners
c) In the event where time is of constraint; Track Officials may reduce buy backs to first round only or first or second round buybacks.
6) Rain Policy:
a) Race is considered final if round 1 of all regular classes (S/P, Pro & SPT, Box, No-Box, and Index) classes is completed.
b) If a race is cancelled, but at least one time run is done for any category; race entry fee will be rolled over or refunded (racers choice), but Racers Fees will not.
c) Any prorating of purses/payouts due to cancellations will not include gold cards or pass backs.
d) Any class that goes past 1st round and is completed will have its purse & points calculated from that point. (Example: Pro finishes 2nd rd, race cancel’s in the middle of S/P 2nd rd: Pro will pay 2nd rd winners & all Pro Racers will receive 2nd rd points and S/P will pay 1st rd winners & all S/P Racers will receive 1st rd points & 2nd rd Buy Backs will receive Buy Back refund).
e) Rain Dates (All Classes) If possible, will be made up on the next available date.
7) Absolutely NO glass containers on grounds at any time.
8) 10 MPH Speed limit by ALL vehicles while on the grounds.
9) All ATV's, golf carts, or other pit vehicles must be driven by someone 16 years or older at all times-NO exceptions. Owners/Driver will be responsible for any accidents & expenses incurred. Also, please be courteous to all while operating your vehicle.
10) Break Passes:
a) No break pass will be issued once you have been paired in staging.
b) Participants who break are allowed to enter another car or a different class on original entry as long as you haven’t been paired or eliminations haven’t started.
c) Anyone receiving a break pass will not receive points for that day’s competition.
11) Lane Choice:
a) Cars in odd lanes will be in the Tower Lane and cars in even lanes will be in the Spectator Lane.
b) When cars are lined in one lane, then the front car has lane choice unless the car is carrying the bye run and then the bye car has lane choice to include the final round.
12) Bye Runs:
a) Bye runs for 1st round are determined by best reaction time results during the 2nd time run session except for laddered classes which have their own rules.
b) After the 1st round, bye runs will be determined by the best reaction time during a winning run in the previous round. In the event of a tie, the racers involved will flip a coin.
c) A bye run is rolled over or carried until it is either used or the racer loses it.
d) Only one bye run is permitted unless all remaining competitors have had one as well.
e) A racer is not allowed to turn down an earned bye run in order to earn it later in the race.
13) Deep Staging is allowed, but not guaranteed. It is the driver’s responsibility to let their opponent know they are deep staging, stage in a timely manner and must have "Deep" written on the window for starter & tower to see.
14) Courtesy Staging:
a) Courtesy staging is mandatory at Coles County Dragway USA.
b) If you are not pre-staged and your opponent has staged, you can wait for the other car to be pulled back by the Starter.
c) Once you pre-stage though, you must stage or the auto-start will time you out if you do not stage.
15) Dial-In:
a) A Dial-In must be visible from the tower on the windshield and on the driver side window.
b) It must be completed before you reach the apron and pass the blue line.
c) It can’t be changed once you’ve entered the apron, unless a clean up or weather delay occurs at which time your opponent & a Track Official must be notified.
d) Your Dial-In on the Dial-In Boards is solely the responsibility of the racers. Once you’ve passed them and “Pre-Staged”, you’ve accepted what is in the computer.
e) No re-runs for Dial-In disputes. Racers are responsible to ensure it’s correct before “Pre” staging.
16) Excessive braking will not be tolerated: (NO EXCEPTIONS, this is your only warning!)
a) CCD interprets this rule as anytime the Head Starter feels a racer is not in control of their race vehicle anywhere on the racing surface.
b) Anyone caught will be disqualified and lose all points for that day. If in the 1st or 2nd round and buy back are allowed; the racer may buy back, but not earn points.
c) Anyone caught a 2nd time will be disqualified and lose all season points.
d) Anyone caught a 3rd time will be disqualified, lose all season points and be barred from any future competition for any events/classes for at least 1 yr.
17) Center Line & Foam Blocks
a) Crossing your side of the center line or hitting Foam Blocks will be automatic disqualification
18) Bikes may compete in any other class as long as they meet all class rules.
19) Q8 (6.39 or Faster):
a) Will be allowed to run in S/P or Pro if a run card is purchased prior to first round, but will not be required to run in any rounds in S/P or Pro while still in Q8 competition. Bye runs are determined by qualifying with #1 getting 1st round bye.
b) If a Q8 racer has previously purchased an S/P or Pro run card prior to first round and loses in Q8 they will fall into S/P or Pro as follows:
i) Q8 1st round loser goes into 1st round of Super Pro or Pro.
ii) Q8 2nd round loser goes into 2nd round of Super Pro or Pro.
iii) Q8 Runner-Up goes into 3rd round of Super Pro or Pro.
iv) Q8 Winner goes into 4th round of Super Pro or Pro.
20) Pit stalls are available for rent:
a) Previous year owners have first right for refusal and must be paid before for February 22, 2025.
1st stall is ($125.00) and each additional pit stall thereafter is $175.00 each. Your pit stall will be considered “Unreserved and available” if not paid by February 22, 2025.
b) Any unreserved pit stall is available to anyone for $125.00 for the 1st stall & $175 for each additional pit stall thereafter if paid before March 23, 2025.
c) Pit stalls purchased after March 24, 2025 will be $200.00 each for the year.
21) Camping is allowed and free anytime, but you will be charged any fees days/nights you are there.
a) All generators, air compressors etc. that are powered by an internal combustion engine running between 11:00pm and 7:00am must meet NHRA standards on noise reduction to respect fellow racers.
22) Tail Light:
a) Every race entry must have a working taillight. If our lights are on, your lights must be on.
23) Summit ET Long Haul Program:
a) If you tow/travel 140 miles or more (from residence)
--- Receive credit for 1 free buyback the day of the Summit ET race
b) Qualifications for the program:
--- Only valid during regular ET Points races; excludes any/all special events.
c) It is the participant’s responsibility to provide proof by:
--- presenting a valid State Drivers License (DL).
--- MapQuest (or equivalent) printed proof of address listed on State (DL) to Track address
d) All decisions made by track personal are final in regards to qualification.
24) Racers Fee (All Classes except Novice Street, Youth Racing & Jr Dragsters):
a) A $5 per racer, per day (Not per class) is paid at the tech booth when paying for class entry.
b) If a category time run is completed, no refunds for gate fee/s will be given.
c) If no time runs are completed, refunds will be issued or rain check good for the next day of racing.
25) Points:
a) 1pt for each round and taking a light (green or red).
b) 1 pt for each round win.
c) 1 pt for each category win.
d) 1 pt may be bought for any races missed, but must be done before the 1st round of next race. Gold cards holders must be done in writing before 1st time run of the next race.
e) Any point’s disputes must be brought to the tracks attention within 6 days of race date; otherwise points posted are considered final.
f) Final point ties will be broken with a run off on the day indicated on the schedule.
26) Double Entry for ET Brackets:
a) You may buy up to two run cards. Each entry must have a different number and designated which entry will be earning points.
b) Can be double entered by two different drivers with two different numbers.
c) Whether double entered by one driver or two it is the driver’s responsibility to be one of the first in staging to allow the second entry time to get back to staging.
d) No entry/s will hold up racing waiting for second entry to get back to staging. 2nd entry will not receive special consideration in regards to cooling, fueling or checking tire pressure. They must return immediately to the staging lanes and run that round of racing.
e) If the same driver is using two different cars it is his/her responsibility to have both cars in staging at all times. The second entry must be pulled into the emergency access road (next to lane zero, in the gravel) if no one can move your car forward in staging.
f) No cars will be allowed to be unattended while in the staging lanes.
g) Double entries shall not be allowed to return to its pits during its class time/elimination runs. Anyone holding up racing could be disqualified and will be up to CCD official’s discretion.
27) Wild Card (Optional):
a) Will be used when time permits determined by management.
b) Is optional for any 3rd round loser and will be $20 per person per class.
c) One person will be drawn per class as the wild card and will enter into 4th round.
d) 50% of the money collected per class we be put onto the person drawn for the “Wild Card” as a bounty. Anyone taking that person out will receive the bounty. Any “Wild Card” winning the race will receive their bounty.
28) Dial for Dollars (Optional)
a) Will be used when time permits determined by management’s.
b) The person closest to their Dial-In without going under will receive 50% of the money collected.
c) Ties will be broken by the better reaction time:
--- In the event both racers have identical reaction time (.5002 & .5002) it will be considered a tie and both racers will split the pot.
d) A red lights will be considered automatic elimination from “Dial for Dollars”
30) Pass Back (PB) & Gold Cards (GC) or any Free Entries:
a) PB, GC or Free entries have no cash value and will not be refunded.
b) PB, GC or Free entries listed in any payouts will not be used when prorating any purses/payouts due to cancellations.
c) PB, GC or Free entries may only be used by the person they were issued to in the category listed. No trading, selling or transfers for any reason’s will be allowed.
31) NHRA NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION SUMMIT RACING SERIES E.T. FINALS BRACKET RULES will be followed unless verbiage above dictates!
