From Rule VII. Time Trials

"C. TIME RESTRICTIONS FOR BRACKET CLASSES: (Bracket Racing Explained)Upon completion of qualifying, scoring officials will group entrants into “brackets” of similar times, ideally the groupings should be within 1.5 seconds (or less) of each other but the range may be expanded based on a number of factors, including number of entries, rain delays, or other factors. The fastest time for a particular bracket establishes the “base” time for that class. If during the race heats, a driver is going .5 seconds faster than the base time for that class, he is running too fast for that class and will “break out,” will be black flagged immediately and will be moved up to the next faster class for the remaining heats. He will forfeit his points for the bracket he was “bumped” from but will be scored in last place in the previous heat(s) for the bracket he/she bumps up to. He/she will start at the rear of the bracket to which bumped up to and will continue to compete in that bracket for the duration of the event, as long as there are no further breakouts. He/she will not be allowed to run the same heat in the bracket that he was bumped up into as the heat that he broke out of. This restriction is designed to eliminate “sandbagging” on time trials and applies to all brackets. Senior 1 and Junior 1 brackets have the same breakout rules. In the eventcompetitor(s) record a lap or laps .5 second faster than the basetime, they will be moved up to a new bracket (1A) and will compete in that new bracket for the remaining heats. It is possible, but unlikely, to be moved up two or three times if there are enough classes and a driver started in the slowest class. Once again, a driver may volunteer to run in a faster class, but he may not reverse his decision."

End of Rule

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Bracket racing was designed to allow anyone with a race legal kart and engine to compete in a comfortable setting; they are grouped with other racers driving nearly the same lap-times regardless of equipment or skill.This allows the system to be fair for drivers of all skill types, and helps to prevent a class where one or two karts are up front, and another few are about to be lapped for example.Each bracket receives equal points; you do not get more points for competing in a higher bracket.For example someone who qualifies and races in the 4^th bracket would still be eligible to win the year end points; they would not be penalized in any way.This differs from a spec class where all karts run in the same heat, regardless of skill or equipment.

As a driver improves in skill they may find themselves qualifying better and therefore running in a faster bracket, additionally, someone may find that they go faster than the base time during a race for that bracket and will be bumped to the next bracket.You can also bump out of the highest bracket and you would then run by yourself in Senior/Master 1a unless more than one kart breaks out.The breakout rule was designed to prevent drivers from sandbagging just to win in a lower bracket.

A racer may request to be placed in a higher bracket, normally this is done when a mistake was made during time trials, or equipment problems existed.Sometimes racers just want to try and follow faster karts as well to learn the racing line, etc.This decision may not be reversed for the duration of the race weekend, if you find yourself being lapped for example.

Please see the Race Director or another Board Member if you have any questions about Bracket Racing.