Stick or Automatic

[Brad Zaskowski]

Stick all the way!
The only dis advantages are the b.s. 250lb weight break the slush box cars get in Modified SS like Jim said and you will not be able to put on makeup or text while going down the track.
Get the 10.5 Mcleod soft-lok like G Force suggested, that is what we run in all three of our cars with very little maintenance. I think I made 4-5 clutch adjustments all year in my SS car making close to 100 runs. Even in Chuck D's CJ with a new McLeod clutch and a driver that had never let the clutch go in a race car we had only a couple adjustments to get the new combo set up and a couple more throughout the year.
As far as your reaction times as long as you have a mechanical clutch linkage and NOT a hydraulic clutch linkage your reaction times will be consistent. Your R/T will be a little quicker than a mod car with an auto but that can be adjusted with tires, air gap, suspension and other adjustments.