I know a Stock class racer who had some aftermarket (Tri-City?) SS springs on his car. He's been a record holder, class winner and near the top qualifier many times. After many years, he was talked into installing a set of Cal-Tracs & shocks. (I ended up with the SS springs.) Naturally, the car weight was adjusted accordingly. He said he gained nothing!

Basically, if the car is set up right, they won't help. (If it's not broke, don't fix it.) But the Cal-Tracs do offer a level of adjustability that's not available with the SS springs......IF NEEDED.

As for the springs working on 8 second cars, they were never "designed" for those ET's, which were well beyond a door car's capability at the time. But it wouldn't surprise me if there were some in the 9's.

(I would think that adding ladder bars & floaters doesn't count because at that point, the spring is used mainly to support the body.)