It takes a ton of talent/work to be consistent with a 4 speed at the track. Harder on parts. One friend call 4 speed cars "leavers".... they leave parts all over the track!
Autos back in the day were nowhere near as fast as 4 speeds. That's changed the last 15-20 years. Automatics = stab and steer :-D
For a muscle car that's a cruiser or street/strip, I'll take a 4 gear every day.
Drag race car, autos make more sense and easier for the "regular joe" if going bracket racing.