I have always been a believer in backing into the waterbox, if possible. Then pulling forward a couple feet, until the rear tires are out of the water, setting the line-lock and putting the hammer down through second gear. Once I get the nod from whoever is helping me that day, I release the linelock and stand in the gas long enough to get away from any moisture on the ground and closer to the tree as quick as possible.
If you're bracket racing, the key is to keep your burnouts as close to the same as possible. Countdown in your head or your crew timing you and telling you when to go, 2 or 3 step rev limiter to keep the revs the same every time, etc., etc...


Lighting them up while in the waterbox is useless.

First off, on the initial spin of the tires, you sling water up into the wheelwells. This will drip all over your tires once done with the burnout.
Also, you have to get out of the puddle once you started...so you are driving through more water on your way to the line...bad idea

Everyone has their own way.

That's my .02