2025 Denton Day of the Dead Coffin Race Information Center

Welcome Coffin Racers!

We welcome you to another fine year of racing down Hickory Street in search of the coveted “Fastest Team” trophy and, equally important, 12 months of bragging rights.

 

Need a refresher on the rules/regulations for your coffin race car/what we’ll be checking for at
inspection on race day?

Race Rules

Register Your Coffin

Think you have what it takes to bring home the trophy? Enter your coffin and we’ll see you at the finish line!

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Everything You Wanted To Know About Race Day
Saturday, October 25, 2025

How You Win At The Coffin Races -
The tale of the tape

Time Trials

You’ll get two chances to post your fastest time, one run in Lane One and one in Lane Two. 

We’ll take your fastest time for bracketing. 

If your pusher foot faults in one of your time trials, we’ll use the only legit time you have. If your pusher foot faults in both time trials, you’re done.

Final Elimination

The fastest 32 teams out of rounds one and two will be placed on the seeded bracket – fastest time races the slowest time, and so on. From there, the first car across the finish line wins, and we’ll continue through the elimination.

We will seed the fastest time against the slowest time according to our bracket spreadsheet. You will not be able to choose your lane. This is not motorsports; this is the Denton Coffin Races.

All the Details

Load-In:

  • Even though you know your Pit Row assignment and approximate location on the Pit Row map, please DO NOT set up your 10×10 text or prepare your pit area until we have finished placing the bike fencing and Pit Row numbers.
  • We often (meaning every year) need to make adjustments the morning of if cars are parked on Austin Street or in the Williams Square lot.
    We can only ask patrons to move their cars, but we do not have the legal right to tow. So that morning we may need to shift a little.
    DO NOT SET UP UNTIL WE GIVE THE OK.
  • Please carefully review the Load-In map below.
    YOU MAY NOT PARK ANYWHERE IN THE WILLIAMS SQUARE LOT.
Load In Map

2025 Coffin Races Pit Row Assignments

Crew Check-In

Check-in begins at 10 am at Coffin Race HQ on the corner of Austin and Hickory.

  • There will be a 10×20 tent on the south side of Hickory Street by the starting line that will be staffed with Race volunteers.
  • PLEASE REFER TO THE LOAD-IN MAP and do not park in the Williams Square lot.

At Check-In, you will:

  • Ensure any drivers and pushers have signed a waiver and received a wristband. You can’t be a driver or pusher without your wristband. We only need waivers from drivers/pushers – not all team members.
  • You will receive a number card that corresponds to your Pit Row assignment. You are required to affix this card to the front of your car prior to racing.

Race Day Inspection

  • Pit Row Staff will inspect your vehicle to ensure it follows the rules.
  • Once the inspection is complete,  no modifications to your vehicle are allowed – no new wheels, no added weight, no nothing.
  • Make sure you have backup replacement parts available in the event of a crash. They must match the inspected parts exactly, or you’ll be DQ’d. 

Time Trials

Foot Faults

  • Don’t go over the start line. It’s that simple. Just like bowling – if your pusher’s toe or pointy bit on their boot crosses that line, that run is DQ’d.
  • We will have a dedicated foot fault judge in Lane One and Lane Two who will communicate their ruling to Race HQ.
  • If your pusher goes over the line after the car has left their grip, it’s STILL A FOOT FAULT.  You cannot cross that line due to post-push momentum. Period.
  • You cannot have a pusher catcher at the starting line.
  • Once we’re in the racing bracket, if you foot fault, you’re done, even if you happen to cross the finish line first.

Timekeeping

In Rounds One and Two, you are racing the clock. Don’t go nuts and wreck your car.

Timekeepers will be posted at the bottom of the hill in Lane One and Lane Two. Your time stops when the nose of your car crosses the line, not the driver.

Your time will be reported to the Official Time Recorder at the bottom of the hill and entered into our live spreadsheet. You’ll also get your time on a color-coded piece of tape so you can keep track.

During Final Elimination, the first one across the finish line wins, but the timekeepers will remain in place and report times to the Official Time Recorder. 

We’ll also tag your car with a piece of tape, including your final time when you’re done.

After Each Race

  • Once you hit the hay, there will be volunteers in place to help pull you up and get you off the racetrack. Your race team must have a volunteer(s) at the foot of the hill waiting for you.
  • You’ll continue down Hickory, turn right on Russell Street, then right again on Mulberry Street to take you back to Pit Row. At that point, you can assess the damage and make repairs using only approved parts. 

Any Questions?