A drag racing strut has 3" of total travel.. you get just over 1.5" of extension .. if the shock is loose on the front it tops out QUICKLY and upsets the chassis which blows the tires off the rear
I have video of this from a car at Drag Week. Told the owner to stiffer the front as much as he could. You could CLEARLY see the suspension top out, and the chassis unload, tire spin. The owner said that wasn't the issue... OK. I didn't bother to film any more after that.
A lot of people keep thinking its all in the rear set up but the car is walking a thin line of blowing the tires off and a slight chassis upset will make a ton of difference.. when I say chassis, thats the whole chassis so the front plays just as much as the rear to the whole chassis package EDIT We are talking milliseconds here at the hit
