Pay more attention to trap speeds vs ET. ET is mostly about optimizing a chassis and having traction. The first 60' is the most important part of drag racing, and Vipers have a tough time getting the job done without breaking. My previous solid axle street cars cut 1.40's with a 6-speed. I'm running 135 mph traps without any traction, without the ability to floor the throttle until 3rd gear. How fast would it go if I could use the whole track? Probably 137-139 mph. With traction, that should be good enough for low 10s without breaking the axle. If it had the potential to cut a 1.4 60' time, easily 9s.
Stock Z06 went 11.5 @ 125 on the same day the Viper went 11.2 @ 135. I had them both at the private track rental. The Z06 was easier to launch, and I could use most of the throttle by the top of 1st.
Because some people race dyno numbers, and some people race cars.
From a roll, it takes a 140 mph trapping car to walk me. There aren't too many street cars that can run like that. Plus, the Viper is geared to hit ~160 mph in 4th gear. I can typically gain a car length on someone when they have to go into 5th before I do. I ran a 2002 Z06 with a 408ci stroker and a 200 shot of nitrous (525 rwhp motor + 200 rwhp nitrous) and he would jump out in front just as we hit it from a 60 mph roll. About the time I got into 4th gear the Viper would start creeping up to even out. By the top of 4th he was 2 cars behind. We did this run a few times. Same result. 725 rwhp nitrous C5 vs my 675 rwhp Viper. Gearing killed him. Dyno sheets don't win races.
Vipers **** in the 1/4-mile, not just Paxton ones. They just aren't made for drag racing. All of them run slower ET's than their power suggests. Gotta have the 60' potential to get good ET's. Most IRS axle cars **** for drag racing. As for the Paxton, it was an easy way to get ~700 hp. Would I do it again? Probably not. You don't even feel the damn thing until you are going 100+ mph. I'd go twins to get a better torque curve. Still might do so...