Event Rules 2026

1. Protest Policy

The following procedures apply to all protests filed during an ABM event:

1. Filing a Protest: A competitor who wishes to file a protest must identify the specific vehicle, rule, incident, or location being protested and proceed to the designated protest area at the tower.
2. Notification: The security guard at the designated access point will be informed that the competitor wishes to exercise their right to file a protest. The security guard will notify the Race Director.
3. Race Director: The Race Director will address the protest when racing operations permit, or may temporarily halt racing at their discretion to address the matter.
4. Respect for Racing Operations: Competitors must not interfere with or disrupt ongoing racing while waiting for the Race Director. Failure to follow officials' instructions, or unauthorized interference with racing operations, may result in disqualification and suspension from the next ABM event. Entry fees or other amounts already paid will not be refunded as a result of such disciplinary action.
5. Conduct During Protest: All protests must be conducted in a professional and respectful manner. Verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, or insulting or disrespectful conduct toward any ABM official, Race Director, security personnel, or other event personnel will not be tolerated.
6. Serious Misconduct: In cases of serious misconduct — including threats, physical aggression, intimidation, or severe verbal abuse directed toward an ABM official, Race Director, security personnel, or other event personnel — the driver may be suspended for a period of one (1) year. The participating vehicle may also be prohibited from competing during the suspension period, where applicable.
7. Final Authority: The Race Director has final authority regarding the handling and resolution of protests during the event. The Race Director's decision shall be FINAL, subject to any specific appeal procedure established by ABM.

2. Testing in Staging Lanes / Pit Area

Engine revs, 2-step check/test, trans-brake check/test, or any other test or check of engine or transmission are not allowed in the staging lanes and/or as tests in the pit area.

3. Bye-Run Sequence

The following procedure is used to determine bye-runs during eliminations:

1. First Round of Eliminations: If the number of qualified competitors entering the first round of eliminations requires a bye-run, the competitor with the best reaction time from the final round of qualifying shall receive the bye-run.
2. Subsequent Elimination Rounds: For each subsequent elimination round, the competitor with the best reaction time from the immediately preceding round shall receive the bye-run, provided that competitor is otherwise eligible.
3. Consecutive Bye-Runs: The same competition vehicle shall not receive two (2) consecutive bye-runs. If the competitor with the best qualifying reaction time is not eligible because that vehicle received the bye-run in the immediately preceding round, the bye-run passes to the next eligible competitor with the best reaction time from that round. The same procedure is followed until an eligible competitor is identified.

4. Eligibility

A competitor must remain in competition and be otherwise eligible to receive a bye-run at the time the bye-run is assigned.

5. Run Order

Run order may vary from event to event. The applicable run order will be announced.

6. Categories Using the Ladder Format

The following categories compete using a Ladder Format: Quick Classes (Cars, Motorcycles), Sportsman Bike / Street-Legal Bike, Pro Classes, Jr. Dragsters, and Super Classes.

Random Pairings: All other categories are paired randomly for each elimination round. Beginning with the Quarter-Finals, an official elimination ladder is generated and published; from that point forward, the remaining rounds follow the published ladder and are not subject to team orders, competitor requests, or other arrangements that could influence the pairing or progression of the rounds.

7. Competition Numbers

All vehicles must have a Competition Number — without it, you will not be allowed to enter the burnout area. Shoe polish is not allowed for competition numbers. Numbers must be at least 4 inches tall.

8. Dial-In Visibility

Dial-in must be visible before passing from the staging lane gates to the burnout area. Track officials have no shoe polish or marker — you must take care of yourself.

9. Dial-In Acceptance at Pre-Stage

Once you pre-stage, you accept your dial-in as it appears on the scoreboard. If it is wrong, no claims will be accepted after the race, and the race will not be re-run.

10. Crew Members Allowed to the Burnout Box

• Sportsman Classes: 2
• Super Classes: 3
• Quick Classes: 3
• Top Classes: 3
• Extreme Import: 4
• Pro Classes: 4
• Jr. Dragsters: 3

If you are not sure what type of class you are participating in, approach a Track Official.

11. Crew Members — Burnout Box to Starting Line

Only one (1) crew member is allowed from the burnout box to the starting line for all categories, with the exception of Pro Classes and Extreme Import, which are allowed two (2).

12. Crew Members — Pre-Stage Restrictions

Crew members assisting with the pre-stage part for any category must leave the starting line area before the pre-stage light turns on. Do not be next to the vehicle during the staging process.

Contact with any vehicle during the staging process, after the pre-stage is activated, is grounds for disqualification of the participant if contested by the opponent before the run.

13. Crew Members — After the Finish Line

All crew members must leave the track as soon as their vehicle crosses the finish line. Staying longer will result in a warning, in the interest of race flow and possible emergency action.

14. Accidents & Emergencies

When there is an accident or emergency, only Track Officials are allowed to assist on the track until the Race Director authorizes crew members to go on track. Violating this rule results in a warning for the crew member and/or possibly the team, at the Race Director's discretion.

15. Break / Breakdown

A “break” or “breakdown” is when a vehicle cannot reach the pre-stage light under its own power. The Starter or Race Director will order the vehicle to move backwards. In an elimination round this is considered a “break” and loses the round (the vehicle must cross the staging beam under its own power to be declared winner). During testing or qualifying, the vehicle may stand on the sidelines until the Race Director signals it to return, if the round is not over.

16. Competition Number & Vehicle Changes

During qualifying or elimination rounds, no competition number may be changed. Qualifying becomes optional in the second round for weather, incidents, or other unusual situations that may interfere with completing the event on time.

17. Alternate Drivers & Vehicle Changes

Alternate drivers are only allowed before the first round of Elimination, and the substituted driver's points are frozen for the duration of the substitution. The driver who runs the elimination lap must run the full event. Similarly, no vehicle changes are allowed after the 2nd qualifying round — the vehicle that ran the 2nd qualifying round must be the one running the elimination rounds.

18. Lane Choice & Bye-Runs by Category

Pro categories: lane choice and/or bye-runs go to the fastest/lowest E.T. All other categories: based on best reaction time of the previous round. The same vehicle is not eligible for 2 bye-runs in consecutive rounds — when the same participant has the best reaction time for two consecutive rounds, the second bye-run goes to the 2nd-best reaction time of the previous round.

19. Quick 16 / Criollo Outlaw Bikes — Tow Vehicle

Bikes using a slider-system clutch (Quick 16, Criollo Outlaw, and all bike categories) must have their tow vehicle (scooter, ATV, etc.) stopped in the shut-down area on the return road before the motorcycle leaves the starting line. Assist your motorcycle out of the shut-down area as quickly as possible — a delay caused by a parked motorcycle blocking the race will get a verbal warning first, then disqualification on a repeat offense.

20. Vehicle Damage During a Run

If you feel your engine, transmission, suspension, or any other part of your vehicle has suffered damage during a run, stop as quickly as possible and as close to the wall as possible — this prevents fluid from spilling onto the track and creating an oil down.

23. Courtesy Staging — Pro-Light & Sportsman Classes

Enforced during all events for categories running Pro-light and Sportsman Classes. Pre-stage and wait for your opponent to pre-stage before turning on the stage lights. If you pre-stage and then stage immediately, you can reverse back into the pre-stage beam — the starter may (but isn't required to) signal you to do so.

If your opponent pre-stages and stages before you turn on your pre-stage light, you must stop and wait for your opponent to reverse back into the pre-stage beam. Pre-staging is considered accepting the violation of courtesy staging, and the race is considered fair — no re-run will be granted.

Once your opponent pre-stages, you have a maximum of one (1) minute to roll into the pre-stage beam. Taking longer can be grounds for disqualification if contested before the run.

24. Gentlemen's Agreement — Streetlegal Full Tree

For Streetlegal Classes running full tree, there is a “Gentlemen's Agreement” for staging: once the opponent enters the staging beam, he accepts the race and there will be no grounds for re-run.

25. Re-Runs

Each run is evaluated individually, and it is at the Race Director's discretion whether a re-run is granted. Once a re-run is decided, each participant of the pairing must obey — the one who fails to reach the starting line on time is automatically disqualified.

26. Waterbox Entry

All vehicles, except Jr. Dragsters and Pro Bikes (which start with jump starters), must enter the waterbox under their own power — do not push the vehicle. If a vehicle cannot start to enter the waterbox or after, it may be disqualified at the Race Director's discretion.

27. Driver Readiness

Drivers must be ready and strapped into their vehicles before arriving at the staging lane gates. Not being ready when called to enter the waterbox may result in disqualification, at the Race Director's discretion.

28. Late to the Staging Lane

During qualifying or eliminations, if you are late and the staging lane gate to your category's lane is closed, you have lost that qualifying or elimination round. This is at the discretion of the Staging Lane officer and/or the Race Director.

29. Category Calls

Each category shall be called a maximum of three (3) times:

1. First Call
2. Second Call
3. Final Call

Competitors are responsible for monitoring the calls and being ready to proceed when their category is called. Failure to report and be ready following the Final Call may result in loss of the qualifying attempt or elimination run.

30. Sportsman Classes — Cool-Down Time

Sportsman classes are entitled to a minimum cool-down period of twenty (20) minutes between competition rounds. When necessary to complete the event schedule and allow the final round to be completed, the Race Director may reduce the cool-down period to a minimum of ten (10) minutes. Any reduction in cool-down time shall be announced by the Race Director.

31. Pro Classes & Extreme Import — Cool-Down Time

Pro Classes and Extreme Import are entitled to a minimum cool-down period of forty-five (45) minutes between competition rounds. When necessary to complete the event schedule, the Race Director may reduce the cool-down period to not less than twenty (20) minutes and not more than twenty-five (25) minutes. Any reduction shall be announced by the Race Director.

32. Motorcycles with Slider Clutches — Cool-Down Time

Motorcycles equipped with slider clutches are entitled to a minimum cool-down period of thirty (30) minutes between competition rounds. This thirty-minute period is the maximum standard cool-down applicable to these motorcycles and shall not constitute grounds for requesting additional cool-down time solely because the motorcycle is equipped with a slider clutch. When necessary, the Race Director may reduce the cool-down period to not less than ten (10) minutes and not more than fifteen (15) minutes. Any reduction shall be announced. These motorcycles remain subject to the applicable Sportsman class procedures where they compete in a Sportsman category.

33. Scooter Category — Safety Requirements (Quick 16 / Quick 32)

For the Scooter category, including Quick 16 and Quick 32, the following requirements apply during ABM Drag Racing events:

1. Scooters with modified chassis must compete with the full body/fairing package installed, where applicable.
2. The scooter must have a properly functioning rear light that provides sufficient visibility to ABM officials and Safety Crew while on the track.
3. Touring scooters must be operated with an approved racing jacket, appropriate protective footwear, and protective gloves.
4. A full-face helmet is mandatory for all competitors participating in the Scooter category.
5. All required safety equipment must be properly worn and secured before the scooter enters the racing surface.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the scooter being prohibited from participating and/or disqualification from the event, at the discretion of the Race Director.

34. Burnout & Staging Time Limit

A one-minute maximum limit applies to the burnout and getting to the pre-stage beam. The clock starts the moment the starter gives the command to fire your engine or start the burnout. Non-compliance is grounds for disqualification by the Race Director.

35. Auto Start Procedure

Where the Auto Start system is in operation, the following procedure shall apply:

1. Pre-Stage Requirement: Both competitors must be fully pre-staged before either competitor may proceed into the final stage beam.
2. Auto Start Timer: Once both competitors are pre-staged, the first competitor to enter the final stage beam will activate the Auto Start sequence. The Auto Start system then begins the predetermined countdown period for the opposing competitor to enter the final stage beam.
3. Time-Out: The second competitor must fully stage before the Auto Start countdown expires. If the competitor fails to fully stage within the prescribed time, the Auto Start system will activate the starting sequence and the competitor will receive a red-light disqualification.
4. Jr. Dragster: For Jr. Dragster, the Auto Start time-out period shall be fifteen (15) seconds, unless otherwise specified by the Event Rules or announced by the Race Director.
5. No Re-Run: A competitor who fails to fully stage before the Auto Start system activates shall be considered responsible for the resulting red light. A red light resulting from failure to stage within the time-out period shall not constitute grounds for a re-run, unless the Race Director determines that the Auto Start system malfunctioned or that an ABM/track-related circumstance directly caused the violation.

36. Vehicle Contact After Pre-Staging — Pull-Back Procedure

Once a competition vehicle has activated the pre-stage beam, no parent, crew member, driver, or other unauthorized person may physically touch, push, hold, pull, or otherwise move the vehicle. Physical contact with the vehicle after the pre-stage beam has been activated shall result in immediate disqualification, subject to the exceptions below.

1. Official Intervention: Only an authorized Track Official, such as the Starter, may physically touch or move a competition vehicle after it has entered the pre-stage beams.
2. Driver Requested Pull Back: If a driver unintentionally rolls too far forward and enters a deep-stage position, the driver may raise a hand or otherwise provide the recognized signal to request a pull-back. The pull-back may only be performed by the Starter or another authorized Track Official.
3. Number of Pull Backs: A maximum of one (1) pull-back per competitor per run shall be permitted, unless the Race Director authorizes an additional pull-back due to an official or track-related circumstance.
4. Unauthorized Assistance: If a parent, crew member, or any other unauthorized person touches, pushes, holds, pulls, or adjusts the vehicle after the pre-stage beam has been activated, the driver may be immediately disqualified from that run.