It’s usually a good idea to hit the max weight allowed! This makes sure that you have gravity on your side. However, there is some disagreement in the Scout community as to the best placement of weight.
If you put the extra weight at the rear of your car about one inch from the axle, your car will have more potential energy. However, other people claim that you should place the weight at the front of your car since this will give you a head start at the beginning of the race.