Will the ESC make your car go faster? No. The Novak GTB is a one touch programable ESC. If you don't understand the instructions on programming your ESC, you should have one of the guys at the track or shop help you. They should be able to do it for you, or at least run it down for you, so you can do it yourself.

Now on your speed problem. Best way you can get your motor up to speed it to take its temperature. By this I mean running it for 5 minutes strait, then using a Temp gun to moniter motor temperature. The motor should be in the ballpark of 160-170F. Keep gearing up till you reach that temperature range.