VOLUME 4 (2015)

Analysis of NHRA Bracket Racing Reaction Times

 

Randell Peters, Indiana State University, randy.peters@indstate.edu

Michael Hayden, Indiana State University, Michael.Hayden@indstate.edu

 

ABSTRACT 

This study of winning reaction times in Elapsed Time Bracket Racing in the National Hot Rod Association used elimination data, consisting of more than thirty five thousand total runs, gathered from ten of the 117 NHRA member tracks in 2013. Nearly eighteen thousand "winning" runs were used for analysis of the following questions: (1) Are the mean reaction times of the three classes (sportsman, pro, and super pro) different; (2) Do reaction times change from earlier rounds to later rounds. A 2x3 ANOVA was used for analysis and the Fisher’s LSD test was used for the post hoc analysis of differences among classes. In all cases the results were statistically significant. Super pro reaction times were twenty thousandths of a second faster than pro, which was twenty thousandths of a second faster than sportsman. The results of this study serve to validate and distinguish the separate classes of competition. Further investigation is necessary to better understand the relationship between reaction times and track as well as round interaction with tracks and classes.