Half mile drags: wow, been awhile on those! The late Mickey Thompson did some over 1/4 mile stuff years ago with a little streamlined front motor dragster. He used a Pontiac Tempest 4 cyl. engie and a special 2 cyl. engine from Tempest 4 banger, which he had cut in half.
He was making international standing start record attemps, by the way.
And yes, Greybeard is right-as-rain that the cams should be the last thing one messes with in modifying his Turnip.