How do I go faster to beat them

'Gran Turismo' for Sony Playstation is the most comprehensive and intuitive racing game, period. It will teach you about cornering, which is the key to winning races, (anybody can go fast down the strait-away). The strategy is to brake late and hold your line, hit the apex of the turn, then back on the gas. You have to know when to feather the throttle out of a turn and when you can punch it to the floor.

Driving in Competition Paperback June 1976 get a coy and read. This will explain the why of driving fast and when to drive slower to go faster.

Watch racing on ESPN the coverage is great watch the pros in corners coming out of corners don't slow down as much but start with the basics

Performance is measured in cubic dollars, not cubic inches. (how fast you want to go= how much money you willing to spend)

1st. You must learn from a professional in a controlled environment so when You strap into Your vehicle to race, You don't kill Yourself or anyone else by doing something foolish like an un-trained rookie. Or You can start in a Hobby Stock division at Your Local Dirt Track and Learn like countless thousands of Us did by beating and banging old Clunkers around until We figured out how to make them Run & Win! (P.S. You can learn to Fight here too)
2nd. You've got to equip Your ride with the same, or BETTER, equipment that Your competitors are using so that the only difference is in the hands, feet, Hearts and Minds of the Drivers in the Race.
3rd. You have to make laps... Lots of laps because nothing takes the place of experience and watching those Drivers in front of You will teach You volumes if You just pay attention!
Now You have to SLOW DOWN if You really want to win. That's the trick that most Folks miss, You've got the Car and the Ability to drive Fast but now You HAVE to Learn to Drive SMOOTH! Stop sliding and spinning and wearing out Your brakes & Tires by diving too deep into the corners... Your Car should still be Strong at the end of the Race when all the other "Hot Shoes" are worn out, if You used Your Brain as much as Your right Foot. Always remember that in Racing, To finish First, first You must finish.

Simple
Assuming the cars are of equal calibre, just hold the pedal to the metal for longer, brake later & accelerate as fast as possible if not braking or cornering. That is the winning formula. Otherwise get a faster car