Hope I'm not out of my lane here, but I'll offer up what works for me:
"I can do this". "I didn't come here to lose". This is what I tell myself prior to each qualifying pass and each round of eliminations. Doesn't always work to my advantage or to advance me. What it does do is settle me for the racing moment.
In drag racing RC cars, each round is like a gunfight. You stand up there all alone in one lane with a competitor in the other lane. Everyone sees you either do well or you don't. Win or go home. No making it up next lap.
Interesting thread. And a necessary part of the racers toolkit for sure. Glad you asked it. Lots of good responses here.
BTW-I bash a 1/8 nitro buggy for stress relief.
-AC-