Sounds like you also need a little track advice.

Pull up to the lights and stop
Put your car into first gear
Put your left foot on the brake
Put your right foot on the gas and step about 1/3rd of the way down. The car will go up to about 1500 rpms(no more with the brake depressed)
Wait for the lights and on the last yellow (NOT GREEN) slide your left foot off the brake and floor it. Shift to second at red line and then the same for third. You will be at the end of the track before you need to shift it into fourth.

Rinse, repeat.