Before their run, racers often perform a burnout. This is done for three reasons (water is applied to initially break traction, allowing the tires to spin up). First, it heats the tires up, creating a sticky superficial layer of rubber on the tires. Secondly, it removes debris from the tires. Thirdly, and most importantly, it coats the track surface with rubber which greatly improves traction during the subsequent launch. A Top Fueller's burnout alone can travel one quarter of the way down the track.

At top engine speed, the exhaust gases escaping from the open headers produce about 800-1000 pounds-force (3.6 kilonewtons) of downforce. The massive foil over and behind the rear wheels produces much more downforce, peaking at around 12,000 lbf (53 kN) when the car reaches a speed of about 324 mph (521 km/h).

Top Fuel dragsters are notorious for the deafening amount of noise their engines create at full throttle (full noise). They generate 120 dB of noise,[1] enough to cause some peoples' eardrums physical pain. This is louder than a Boeing 747 jet airliner at take-off power. The intense levels of sound are not only heard, but also felt as pounding vibrations all over one's body, leading many to compare the experience of watching a Top Fuel dragster make a pass to 'feeling as though the entire drag strip is being bombed'. Prior to the dragsters going down the strip, race announcers usually advise spectators to cover or plug their ears—indeed, ear plugs and even earmuffs are often handed out to fans at the entrance to a Top Fuel event.