Why not just start in 3rd gear, low range? That way the trans is in 1:1 and your gear reduction is clear back in the transfer case.

Wheather I'm 4 wheeling, mud racing, or truck pulling I run low range. It moves the torque further back in the drive line. You will likely not hurt anything with the gas engine, but a buddy used to run a hot cummins with a 727 in an offroad truck. Whenever he used high range, he would either break the output shaft of the trans or the input to the transfer case.

Whenever a Chevy with a 4speed that runs very good tries to pull high range, 1st gear(its slightly faster then low range 2nd), they almost always will brake the coupler between the trans and t-case. If they hook in low range and pull in 2nd, they get to make many passes with no breakage.

Michael