No certification if doing HPDE. As long as your car pass tech, you have the required gear and you don’t look like you are drunk or on drugs, pay the fee and you are in. Won’t be driving solo until an instructor sign you off.
Racing is different. Start with getting a race license, have a car build to rule book, have a way to tow the car there. If you have $$$$$ nothing is impossible…:rofl
Also, checkout this sticky in the race section by JC: http://shift518.com/showthread.php?t=538