I wouldn't have a car without one. I just put a bigger radiator in my altered this year. What kind of racing are you planning on doing? Will you have time between rounds to cool a car with no radiator?
I assume you plan on towing the car around. I drive mine to staging, race and drive it back to the pits. My car also has an alternator. I don't have to charge between rounds.
When we put my car together, the idea was for the car to be as self-suficient as possible. I can load, unload and race by myself.
BTW I run pump gas. I know alky runs cooler.