OK, first time at the track, let the computer do the shifting for you. Put the car in Drive with traction control and OD off. Make sure your air conditioner if off and windows are up. Drive around the water box, don't let your front tires get in the water. You can back into the water box and spin your tires a revolution or two. Make sure you wait until the guy motions you it's OK. Pull forward, out of the water, and do a small burn out with street tires, only a second or two. Now it's time to stage. Pull up slowly until the top light comes on. Stop and wait for the other car to light his top light. That is called courtesy staging. Now, pull forward until your second light comes on. You are now staged, be ready. As soon as both cars are staged, the tree will come on. There will be three yellow lights followed by a green light. DO NOT wait for the green light. As soon as you see the third light start to light up, hit the gas and release the break at the same time. You'll have to experiment to see how much gas to apply to keep from spinning your tires, but floor it within a second or two. When you get to the finish line, slow down and stay in your lane. There are usually two exits. Try to make the first one, but don't slam on brakes to do it. Never turn in front of the other car. Let the car who is on the same side of the track as the exit, leave the track first. Stop at the booth to get your time slip. Go back to the pits and let your car cool down about 30 minutes and do it again.
