FWIW in our dragster we ran a coupole races where 5.00 was as quick as could be dialed. We shifted the car immediately into high gear and it would run 5.0/150 and all out on those days would have run 4.50/153. Used that set up on occasion to bracket race as well. As folks didn't expect a 5.0 car to run 150. was very affective. I have run the blue car in the 9.60 class and used the same strategy to slow it down. Immediately shift first gear and short second. Slows it down more than enough to make it raceable at 9.60 from 8.80's or 9.0's here