In drag racing, what kind of start does each race begin from?

In drag racing, each race begins from a standing start.

Both vehicles are stationary when the starting sequence begins, rather than already moving down the track. Drivers first position their front wheels in the staging beams, then react to the amber lights on the electronic “Christmas Tree.” The launch is a contest of reaction time, engine power, gearing, and tire grip from the very first instant.

A standing start is easy to confuse with a rolling start, used in some circuit-racing series after a pace lap. A flying start is different again: the timing begins after a vehicle has already reached speed. Drag racing’s short, straight format makes the stationary launch central to the sport. Traditional races cover a quarter mile, although 1,000-foot and eighth-mile formats are also common. The start itself can be decisive; a driver may lose despite having the faster car by reacting too slowly or leaving before the permitted signal, which produces a red-light foul.