What determines categories in drag racing?

Answer 1

Basically, how fast your car is is what determines what class you run in, when it comes to bracket racing. They wikk have brackets from, say, 14.99 and slower, 12.50 to 13.99, 10.99, to 12.49, and so on. In class racing you build a car to compete in a certain class, by the rules governed by NHRA, in their official rule book.

Answer 2

NHRA's web site says that there are 200 different classes

Here are a few determining factors:

Type of vehicle- rail, car, motorcycle, etc.

weight

engine size

fuel used

force induction/nitrous

tire type/size

how modified from stock is the engine

how modified from stock is the suspension

factory frame or tubed chassis

even have certain classes for EFI only vs. carburetor

running a specific Index or not