[brian schuetta]

To start out bracket racing a daily driver you need to get track time. Weekly bracket races and test and tune specials if they have them. Don't mess with the car at the track except tire pressure and then just to keep track of it and experiment with what works. Go to the line at normal operating temperature, like what the car runs driving around town. Leave at idle and leave it in drive, it will run what it runs. Double 0 lights are cool but aren't really needed to win consistently, you will see what your competitors cut for lights. The better their lights are against you the more respect they have for you. Keep track of the weather and write your runs with the weather included. Look at that info during the week and look for trends. Yeah I know there are weather stations and computers that will do that for you but you are learning right now. When in doubt take the finish line, don't give the stripe away make the other guy take it from you. After a year or season of just making runs, getting to know your car, cutting lights, and getting top end experience you will be able to answer a lot of your own questions. Keep it simple to start and take it to the next level of performance or complexity when you are ready to spend money.