When I started in a street stock, I went straight into the heat race and had never done more than race in a few autocrosses. Seems to be normal for dirt tracks, which has never made sense to me. Having some practice days during the season, or even just a rookie practice day would save people a lot of money. If you are showing the other racers respect by starting the first few races in the back, and move over for the leaders when they lap you (and they probably will when you start out) they will remember that. Nobody wants to race with someone who drives over there head and tears everyone cars up.
