Match racing

Match Racing is a competition race between two racers going head to head. That is to say that both competitors leave at the same time, and the first one to the finish line wins the race. The professional classes of NHRA (Pro Stock, Funny Cars, Top Fuel, etc... are match races.

It differs from bracket racing, where the slower car leaves first, and the faster car leaves later by the difference in the declared times of the cars. This would theoretically have both cars cross the line at the same time. The purpose being to have a fair competition between two cars having one faster than the other. In a perfect world, there would be enough cars that were close equals competing against each other, but at amateur races it isn't the case.