You could get yourself some Hoosier Quicktime Pro D.O.T. bias ply slicks and you don't want to change tires at the track. That's what I used to use before I switched to drag radials.

IMHO you are overthinking the operating range of the cam/worrying about how much you will have to slip the clutch to get going. You need to keep in mind how much torque even a stock 440 has.

Do you have a particular ET you are wanting to run at the strip? That's probably why people are asking how you came up with your 550 hp goal.

A stock stroke 440 with almost any of the available stock iron cylinder heads with a mild performance hydraulic cam can get a B-Body into the mid 12s. A true mid 12 second 400+ hp old car is enough to be scary on the street and fun at the track.

I see a lot of Mopars at cruise nights and local shows with stroker crankshafts and aluminum heads that on paper should be good for 600-700 hp that I never ever see running at our local 1/8 mile track.