All NHRA National and Divisional events will utilize the following lane choice procedures:

In Competition Eliminator, the driver with the better qualifying position gets first-round lane choice, and in subsequent rounds, lane choice goes to the racer with the lowest e.t. (in relation to their class index – not a personal index) from the previous round.  If there is a tie to the thousandth, speed is not the determining factor – the first racer posting the time will earn lane choice. 

In Top Dragster and Top Sportsman, the driver with the better qualifying position earns first-round lane choice, and in subsequent rounds, lane choice goes to the racer with the lowest e.t. from the previous round. Runs under 6.10 are not eligible for lane choice unless both drivers went quicker than 6.10 in the previous round – whereas the driver running closest to 6.10 would earn lane choice.  In the event of identical e.t.’s, the racer with highest MPH earns choice. 

In all other categories, drivers are to determine lane choice by coin flip or a random-draw lane assignment.