Autos are hard to beat at the drag strip. For a variety of reasons. It's tough to outshift them without power shifting which is hard as hell on your transmission. Burnouts are easier to do and don't require a clutch dump which also wears the crap out of the thing. Launching the car is easier. Staging the car is easier.

They are just flat out easier and really not much if any slower than a manual.

On a road course? Screw the auto. You want a manual. Or a paddle shifter.