Thanks everyone - read all of your responses and considered each one. I decided I would reconfigure my car for VTA and try it out. My current motor set up seems way to fast for me anyways to get any type of skill out of it and it seems to eat differentials (hopefully the metal one will fix this). I already feel bad spending $200 on the wrong battery (5400 in size, max is 5000 for vta) and not doing my homework on an esc and motor.
Here is what I am going to buy:
Motor/esc: Tower hobbies : LXDRYE
Battery: Tower hobbies : LXBDBH
Tires: Tower hobbies : LXKKW0
Tower hobbies : LXKKW1
Body: Still picking, but VTA body.
Sorry about the part numbers - i can't post links yet.
Total cost: ~255$ - Still cheaper than just my body and at least gets me in a race.
Thanks!
The Yellow Dart