The Starting Line: What Is Courtesy Staging?

What is courtesy staging?

Courtesy staging is a practice in drag racing where both racers take turns staging their vehicles. While it is not always enforced by rules, some pro classes may require it, and certain tracks may encourage or enforce courtesy staging. The process involves waiting for your opponent to pre-stage before you stage, or vice versa. Here's how courtesy staging typically works:

• 1.) Pre-Staging Sequence: When approaching the starting line, breaking the first set of beams lights the two "pre-stage" bulbs on the Christmas tree for both racers.

• 2.) Courtesy Staging: The first racer (Racer X) then waits for the second racer (Racer Y) to pre-stage. Once Racer Y has pre-staged, Racer X proceeds to stage. After Racer X has fully staged, Racer Y stages.

• 3.) Taking Turns: The key is to take turns in the staging procedure, ensuring that neither racer fully stages before the other has at least pre-staged.

The opposite of courtesy staging is often referred to as "double bulbing." This occurs when a racer turns on both the pre-stage and stage bulbs before their opponent even turns on their first bulb. While it could be due to inexperience, sometimes it may be intentional to disrupt the opponent's routine.

While not a universal rule, many consider courtesy staging a good sportsmanship practice. It reflects mutual respect among racers and ensures a fair and orderly staging process. It's important for racers to stay calm, not get rattled, and maintain their routine, even if their opponent does not adhere to courtesy staging. Overall, courtesy staging contributes to a positive racing environment and fair competition.

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