It’s yellow to get ready, green to go

It was easier to understand when quarter-mile racing began with a guy waving a flag to start a pair of cars.

Since 1963, though, an electronic starting device called the “Christmas Tree” — for its flashing red, yellow and green bulbs — has been used.

The now-computerized system will be used again today in the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Before getting to the starting line, drivers inch across to a pre-staging line. They then move forward 7 inches to line up 13 3/8 inches from the starting line.

Once each car in the three NHRA professional categories — Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock — breaks the last staging beam, countdown begins for the Tree. Three yellow bulbs are simultaneously lit before the green go-light blows.

If a driver leaves the starting line before the green light is illuminated, the red light comes on to signal the foul and the racer’s disqualification.

Here are examples of how three top drivers try to get the edge off the starting line:

TOP FUEL

Cory McClenathan ranks among the best starters off the line in his Don Schumacher Racing dragster. He has been doing it for nearly 20 years, and for him it’s about focus.

While backing up after his pre-race burnout, McClenathan concentrates on something — a hat, a hand, even a finger — on the crewman who is guiding him back to the starting line.

He’s focused.

Once he gets ready to pre-stage, McClenathan says he immediately begins staring at one of the three yellow bulbs on the Tree.

After crossing pre-staging, he drops the face shield on his helmet, switches on the second of two fuel pumps, lets the clutch out and gently nudges the hand brake to “bump” the car up to the starting line.

All the time McClenathan focuses on the yellow bulbs and waits for them to brighten.

When the yellows light, he dumps the hand brake and hammers the throttle pedal.

FUNNY CAR

Robert Hight, reigning Funny Car champion in today’s race for John Force Racing, said once he sees the pre-staging light, he’ll push in the clutch and turn on the second fuel pump. He takes a couple of deep breaths.

The car also must be pointed straight, and his helmet visor is flipped down.

Hight creeps his car toward the starting line as it idles. Once the final staging light is lit, he turns on the second fuel pump, releases the clutch and holds the hand brake.

Another deep breath.

When the bulbs light, he releases the hand brake in his right hand while hitting the throttle pedal.

PRO STOCK

Unlike the aforementioned 7,000-horsepower, nitro-fueled cars, the full-bodied Pro Stock cars put out about 1,400 horsepower and, at 200 mph, are about 100 mph slower.

That changes the starting-line game for three-time series champion Greg Anderson.

He says he pumps the foot brake to build pressure in the line before tripping the first staging light, after which he checks the reserve pressure for the front brakes.

Anderson holds a brake button on the left side of the steering wheel to lock the tires and begins overpowering the front brakes with power from the rear slicks to inch toward the second light.

He focuses on one of the yellow bulbs.

Most drivers bring the engine to about 5,000 RPM, so when the brake button is released and the yellows light, their car rockets off the starting line.

All the time Anderson’s right hand stays on the shifter to keep the transmission from jumping out of first gear. Four shifts are made before completing half of his quarter-mile run.