A track start wedge includes a housing, a ratchet gear assembly, and a locking pawl assembly. The ratchet gear assembly is disposed at least partially within the housing and includes a bar, a pinion gear at each end of the bar, and a ratchet gear between the ends of the bar. The locking pawl assembly is coupled to the housing and includes a locking pawl disengageably coupled to the ratchet gear and a spring operable to bias the locking pawl into engagement with the ratchet gear. The ratchet gear assembly is configured to rotate in unison in a first direction toward a front of the housing and a second direction toward a rear of the housing, but the locking pawl prevents rotation of the ratchet gear in the second direction when the locking pawl is engaged with the ratchet gear.