hoodscoop

i was at the track last weekend running my car with out the air cleaner. about midway it was not pulling right. i have a six pack hood with no tray on top of the carb. the hood has always raised in the middle on the big end could the air coming through the scoop and out the back of my hood be pulling the gas out of my ventures? i put the air cleaner on it and it ran faster. i would think it would run faster with it off.