...but it is more complicated because people play games, like push or lead you till just before the finish, then dump you allowing you to take the stripe anticipating that you will break out!

Some know their cars so well that they know where they are and where they should be through the run. Everything is planned out. Some can dump, some can actually close it up to LESS than a hundredth. People who do play games usually prefer a faster car because they can see the slower car at all times and it's easier to judge what to do at the finish.

Regardless of whether you race all-out to run your dial, sandbag, play games or whatever, you have to be consistent and know how your car's ET is affected by shift points, weather, wind, temps, braking at a certain point on the track, etc. It also helps to have an idea of how your opponent races and what he/she dials in relationship to what they run. Attentive pit crew and an asset.



To expand on what Lil Demon said, some people use the natural long nose or spoiler of their car and/or run soft shocks to dip the nose when braking at the right time to trip the beams also.