Contemplating a race build.

Having raced for 40-years this is my advice. Get the lightest possible vehicle you can find. The lighter it is the less horsepower that will be needed. Nothing in racing is cheap like it used to be and horsepower of any kind cost a lot of money today. Light car, low power, less issues with maintenance. Or as the old man I used to know always told me to follow the KISS rule.

Tom

agreed.
If you are serious about racing, cutting a light with a 4400 pound vehicle is much harder than a lighter car.
Parts will love you too in a lighter racer