All NHRA National and Divisional events will utilize the following lane choice procedures:

In Competition Eliminator, the driver with the better qualifying position gets first-round lane choice, and in subsequent rounds, the lane choice goes to the driver with the lowest elapsed time from the previous round (in relation to his or her index used for qualifying). If there is a tie to the  thousandth, speed is not the determining factor - the first contestant posting the time will earn lane choice.

In Top Dragster and Top Sportsman, the driver with the better qualifying position earns first-round lane choice, and in subsequent rounds, lane choice goes to the racer with the lowest e.t. from the previous round. Runs under 6.10 are not eligible for lane choice unless both drivers went quicker than 6.10 in the previous round – whereas the driver running closest to 6.10 would earn lane choice.  In the event of identical e.t.’s, the racer with highest MPH earns choice. 

In all other categories, drivers are to determine lane choice by coin flip or a random-draw lane assignment.