Manual or automatic?

if you are going drag racing id say you will get easier consistency and have fun with an auto of some kind

if you intend it to be a multi use vehicle the manual does it, you can chase BMWs and Audis on the freeway, surprise a range of modern stuff away from the lights , light up the tyres as you leave coffee and cars.... drift it in the wet and hammer it along country roads.
i have a 4 speed keeps me happy
I do drag race it in an amateur way but really unless you have a lot of 4 speeds you are not gonna have the luxury of pinging the clutch time after time.... you will break something.
which is why i drive to the track run street tyres and just check to see if i'm going faster than last year... i drive in, I empty the car, do an afternoon of passes and get on the beer.

i don't have the time the money or the spare transmissions and clutches to be a consistent manual trans drag racer.. 904 line lock and slicks well it could be different

basically your intended use/application is worth thinking about.
if you drive A to B 90% of the time, when A and B are not 1/4 of a mile apart 4 speed is great. 3.23:1 3.5:1 3.7:1 in the back yeah... it goes and you are not doing ridiculous rpm at 70 mph, go with the softest lightest clutch you can get away with.... test stamp the peddle in 3rd at 40 no slip...all good. clutch plate is cheap transmission rebuild is not

Dave