Oh boy. Firstly, well done for taking this approach and not going straight to the hobby shop and taking only their recommendation, so many do this, then discover this site, then wish they had taken more time to decide before pulling the trigger on a $400+ RC.

You don't 'need' to learn to 'bash' (bashing is what we call random non-racing RC use and can be anything from running up and down the street outside the house, to extreme stunts in gravel pits, its anything that isn't racing) before venturing to the track, but it might not be a bad idea to find an area with some different surfaces and get a handle on the way the cars behave, the control method, etc, as having a TOTAL novice on the track when you're trying to practice can be frustrating, but is something we all must deal with, never be embarrassed of your skills or feel that you are causing another driver a problem, you paid the entry fee too, just try not to be a rolling road block.

So, let's take this one step at a time. Your ultimate goal is track racing (or at least having fun at the track on practice day), so you need to first find out what classes are run at the local track and how popular they are, so you can make a decision about which class to run. Bear in mind that 'stock' classes are cheap to run in usually, requiring everyone's equipment to be at the same level, some tracks even hand out motors and tires which must be used on the day. Mod or 'Open' classes are where the rich kids will shine, as anything goes in terms of hopups to the cars and electronics/engines, as long as some basic racing rules are followed.

The decision about which class you want to run in will probably make the decision for you regarding power source. In case your track runs many classes and you are free to choose, you have 2 choices, nitromethane burning combustion engines, or electric. At the bottom end of the budget scale, nitro engines are faster than electric motors, but at the top end of the scale, the opposite is true. Still, both power sources have more than enough power to get round a track as fast as possible. Electric's torque advantage means little on a track that was designed designed for nitro (as most are), however it does start to shine when just messing around.

For your first foray into RC, you will probably be looking at 1/10th or 1/8th scale, as they are the ideal power/weight scales. 1/10th is cheap enough and easy to work on and get into, however, 1/8th offers more in every way. The 1/8th cars are much stronger, much better made, much faster and generally more evolved. I you can afford to get a 1/8th buggy or truggy and your track runs those classes, I would say you have to give them a try. 1/8th truggy particularly is for me, the best class in the hobby. It has everything, all the advantages of a monster truck (for good bashing) and buggy (for knife edge racing) in one platform, none of the disadvantages of either.

RWD Short Course Truck is a 1/10th class and is no doubt popular at your track. The cars are relatively cheap, as are parts, and they do not require many modifications, therefore the racing is pretty even, even when budget isn't limited. This would be a great choice for starting a racing career.

Regarding your final choice of vehicle, whether you get it from the local store or online, especially when starting out racing, you really want to choose something that is already popular in your area and at the local track. If your LHS sells Losi and loads at your track are running Losi cars for that reason, then it would be sensible to get a Losi for reasons of immediate local parts support if needed, and setup advice at the track.

There are so many brands in RC and so many cars, I could give you a list of brands in order of quality in my opinion, but it wouldn't be very relevant until you told me which class you want to run, as some are better than others at certain classes. All the premium brands are capable of making a car that can break a lap record and stay in one piece throughout a race. Some have slightly better materials than others, some are prettier than others, some are more fun to build than others. Have a think over the above and let me know what class interests you, what brands this LHS carries, and I'll give you a rundown on the popular models in that class, and the brand advantages/disadvantages.