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Does Iracing Have Drag Racing

New to iRacing? Wondering about drag racing? This calm guide answers does iRacing have drag racing, plus simple workarounds and iRacing tips for better launches.

If you’ve searched the menus and can’t find a “Drag” tab, you’re not alone. Many new to iRacing expect a quarter-mile mode with lights and timing boards. Here’s the good news: you don’t need to be an engineer to understand how iRacing works. You just need a clear answer and a simple plan.

Quick Answer: does iracing have drag racing?

Short version: iRacing does not currently offer an official drag racing mode, dedicated drag strips, or NHRA-style staging lights. The sim focuses on road, oval, dirt oval, and rallycross. You can, however, run “drag-style” launch tests and short sprints in Testing or Hosted sessions to practice starts and acceleration.

Why This Matters for Beginners

iRacing beginners often assume every motorsport discipline is included. Because some real circuits feature drag strips in the real world, it’s easy to think they’ll be modeled in-game. Right now, they aren’t. Understanding this up front keeps your expectations aligned and helps you spend practice time wisely.

Still, practicing launches is incredibly useful—even if you’re not into straight-line racing. A clean start can gain positions in rookies and beyond. Learning throttle control, clutch bite point, and traction on cold tires pays off everywhere. Think of this as a chance to build core car control rather than hunt for a missing feature.

Simple Step-by-Step Guide: Set Up a “Drag-Style” Sprint

Follow these steps to simulate a short, straight sprint and work on launches.

Pick a car and track with a long straight: Daytona oval, Monza, or Le Mans are great choices. Start a solo Testing session with a standing start.
Choose a clear landmark as your “finish” (e.g., a marshal post or bridge). Make it consistent each run.
Line up square to the road, stop completely, then launch on your own “go.” Aim to keep wheelspin controlled and the car straight.
Use the session timer or an external timing app if you want precise 0–100 km/h or 0–60 mph measurements. Reset and repeat for 5–10 runs.
Change one thing at a time—start RPM, clutch release speed, or traction control setting—so you can feel what actually improves the launch.

Small Practice Drill: Find Your Bite Point

In a low-power car (e.g., MX-5), hold the clutch at 1000–1500 RPM.
Slowly release the pedal until the revs slightly dip—note that position. That’s your bite point.
Repeat five times. Then practice a smooth, quick release to that point while progressively adding throttle.

Quick Pro Tips

Start lower than you think: Excess RPM just lights up the tires. Smooth beats wild.
Short-shift early in high-power cars to keep traction; grab second as soon as the tires hook.
Turn off aids gradually: If the car has launch control or high TC, reduce them step-by-step so you learn throttle feel.
Keep the wheel straight: Even tiny steering inputs add scrub and slow you down.
Log your runs: Two minutes of notes (“3,000 RPM start = more wheelspin”) will accelerate learning.

FAQs

Q: Can I race friends in a true drag format with a tree and reaction times?
A: Not natively. You can host a session and agree on a starting cue, but there’s no official staging or drag-timing system.

Q: Are there any drag cars in iRacing?
A: No. iRacing currently focuses on circuit-based cars and disciplines.

Q: Is practicing launches useful for road or oval racing?
A: Absolutely. Good launch technique improves starts, pit exits, and car control on cold tires.

Q: How do I see 0–60 times?
A: Use the session clock for rough comparisons or a third-party telemetry/timing app for precise metrics.

Final Takeaways

The clear answer: iRacing doesn’t include official drag racing, but you can practice “drag-style” launches and sprints in Testing or Hosted sessions.
Next step: Pick a long straight, run 10 launches, and change just one variable each run. That’s how iRacing works best—small, focused tweaks.
If you get stuck, ask in an iRacing Discord community—plenty of veterans are happy to share practical iRacing tips for better starts.