Introduction
New to NitroLab or drag racing in general? The terminology can be overwhelming. This glossary covers every term you’ll encounter, from basic to advanced.
A
Acceleration - The rate at which a car increases speed from launch to finish.
B
Burnout - Spinning the tires before a race to heat them up and improve traction. In NitroLab, this may be simulated or manual.
Boost - Additional power from forced induction (turbo or supercharger).
Bracket Racing - Racing format where cars of different speeds compete using a handicap system.
C
Christmas Tree - The starting light system that counts down before the race begins.
Crew - A team of players who race together and compete in team events.
D
Dial-In - In bracket racing, the time you predict for your run.
DNF - Did Not Finish. When a car doesn’t complete the race.
Drag Radials - Tires designed for drag racing that are also street legal.
E
ET (Elapsed Time) - The total time from launch to crossing the finish line.
Engine Swap - Replacing the stock engine with a different one for more power.
F
Forced Induction - Using turbochargers or superchargers to increase engine power.
Foul Start - Leaving before the green light, resulting in disqualification.
G
Gear Ratio - The relationship between engine RPM and wheel speed, affected by transmission and differential gearing.
Grip - Tire traction on the racing surface.
H
Hole Shot - Winning the race by having a faster reaction time, even with a slower ET.
Hook Up - When tires achieve maximum traction at launch.
L
Launch - The moment the race begins and cars accelerate from standstill.
Light (Getting the Light) - Winning by a small margin, visible only via timing lights.
M
Matchup - A race between two specific cars/players.
Meta - The currently dominant strategy, car, or tune in competitive play.
N
Nitrous/NOS - Nitrous oxide injection system that provides temporary power boost.
No-Prep - Racing without track preparation, requiring more driver skill.
O
Over-Rev - Exceeding the engine’s safe RPM limit, potentially causing damage.
P
Perfect Light - Achieving optimal reaction time at launch.
Power-to-Weight Ratio - Engine power divided by vehicle weight; higher is better.
R
Reaction Time (RT) - Time between the green light and the car leaving the line.
Redlight - Starting before the green light, resulting in disqualification.
Roll Race - Race starting from a rolling speed rather than standstill.
S
Slicks - Smooth, treaded drag racing tires for maximum grip.
Staging - Positioning the car at the starting line before the race begins.
Spin - Losing traction and having the tires spin without forward progress.
Supercharger - Belt-driven forced induction device for increased power.
T
Trap Speed - The speed measured at the finish line.
Tune - The specific configuration of engine, transmission, and suspension settings.
Turbo - Exhaust-driven forced induction device for increased power.
W
Weight Transfer - The shift of weight from front to rear during acceleration.
Wheelie - When the front wheels lift off the ground during launch (too much power or rear weight bias).
Wrap - The visual design/livery applied to a car’s exterior.
Race Slang
“Gapped” - Beat by a significant margin.
“On the Trailer” - Eliminated from a tournament (going home).
“Running Consistent” - Producing similar times across multiple runs.
“Street Cred” - Reputation earned through racing achievements.
“Tune-Up” - Adjusting car settings between rounds.
Community Terms
GG - Good game; sportsmanlike acknowledgment of a race.
NT - Nice try; encouraging message after a loss.
Run it Back - Request for an immediate rematch.
Conclusion
Bookmark this glossary and reference it whenever you encounter unfamiliar terms. Understanding the language of drag racing is the first step to becoming part of the NitroLab community.