like bean said 2nd gear, low range (dont forget to lock hubs, sounds stupid but ppl do it all the time). after chain gets tight and the green flag comes out, roll into the throttle, dont just mash it, and dont make a sunday drive out of it. if she gets to hoppin' let off a lil to calm it down and get back into it, if that doesnt cure it shut it down...they only hop a few times until something bad happens.
also read the track...look for the hard spots, sometimes the hard spots will appear to be "shinny". you can also find the hard spots by poking the track with a screw driver. look at the "grade" or "terrain" of the track...by this i mean if there is a huge hole on the left side of the track at the 200ft mark, dont drive into it. also watch the other trucks where they driving and if one part of the track is getting a better bite than another part.
if for some reason during your pull you need to stop, for any reason. DO NOT HIT THE BRAKES! just get out of it and the sled will stop you, i promise. if during your pull you mash the brake pedal, the sled WILL roll into the back of your rig...ive seen this happen more than once, and it aint pretty.
hope this helped. good luck. "once you hook, you're HOOKED!"
p.s. after your pull and the chain has been cut loose and your ready to drive off the track....dont be one of those guys that romps on it and does 100mph off the track...its dangerous to the ppl working the track and it makes you look like a douche bag...that crap is for drag racers!