8th scale races often follow the 'moto' style of qualifying. the field runs all their quals and then your mains are split in half. If your qualifying position is an even number, you are in the Even ladder. If odd, the Odd ladder.

if there are 8 'mains' then you would have:

1/2 Even
1/2 Odd
1/4 Even
1/4 Odd
1/16 Even
1/16 Odd
1/32 Even
1/32 Odd

The lower mains are 1/32. the top two from each bump up one. So if you have a bad qualifier and end up in the 1/32, then you have to finish 1st or 2nd in the 32nd, 16th, 4th (quarter) in order to reach the 1/2 (semi)

they take the top 6 from each Semi and then the last 2 positions are based off fastest time. Those 14 end up in the Final.