In a full race application, a properly setup and tuned clutchless 5 speed manual will ALWAYS be faster than an auto car. If you look at Pro 5.0, Pro Import RWD or any other class that allows clutchless 5 speeds, they dominate when properly setup. If the clutch tuner can setup the clutch properly and allow just the right amount of slippage off the line and the suspension works well, an auto car will not win....all other things being equal. Case in point....Brad Brand's 10.5" outlaw car set the world record running a 7.14 @ 206 mph running a Liberty 5 speed. This is a couple tenths faster than his previous best running an auto(power glide or 3 speed Bruno I think). No one ever thought a 5 speed car would be able to run the kind of times on such a smal tire. It just goes to show what good suspension and good clutch tuning can do.

Now a street application, an auto 99% of the time will out run a 5/6 speed car. There are few instances where a well geared 5/6 speed car with good suspension tuning and a good driver can hang with an auto car....all things being equal of course. For the typical street car there is only so much you can do with the suspension though. An auto will put the power to the ground much much smoother and will be more consistant off the line.

Oh also, top fuel doesn't run transmission at all. They run a multi disc clutch setup.

Just my $0.02.