You should maybe use the rest of this season as information gathering time. See if you can find a track in your area and go into the pits and start asking questions. Try and do this when the pace is slow and the drivers and crew people have time. You'll find that racers in any venue will be willing to help as much as they can. Research will pay off in the end. And take pictures too.
Just as a sidebar, building your own chassis could prove to be very daunting so a used chassis might be your best approach. Do searches on the INTERNET and I'm sure you'll find a wealth of information.
Good luck.