Torque is still what will get the car off the line the quickest. We ran small inch motors for years in the old Modified eliminator classes- 301's,302's,311's, and had to whang them on the line to 8500+ just to get the car moving, then needing several gears to keep the power band in place, and watching the things scatter parts. It is much smarter to use a bigger inch 350, 377, 383, or better yet 406,434, small block with a glide.
John