Let's see if I can field these in order...

Jim, thanks for your feedback. Not sure if I was on the limiter or just missing a tad, but it definitely sounded different to me at the end of the straights, but only late in the "B"; still pulled strong outta the corners though.(Sorry to see you DQ'd for weight by the way; you had 'em covered...)
Sprintracer & Robert, not sure if the nerfs are moly or mild steel; they're what were on the car when I bought it. When Jack turned in he caught me pretty solid smack in the middle of the span of the bumper, then I think I rode up over his left front. I think the damage was done when I came back down, possibly on Jack's left rear because I tore his sail panel off somewhere in the process; I think that's what did the damage because everything is bent upward, and the rear spuds tore out of the frame on the underside of the tubes.
Dad, You're half right, Hilborn, but an MSD MC-3 box (with Dyna coils) with an 11,000 RPM chip; I ran a 14-53 gear combo, which according to my handy-dandy Excel spreadsheet gives me a 9.663 final drive in 2nd. Stagger was 83-1/2 - 76-3/4, or 6-3/4".
And yes, I felt like I was improving, especially my corner entry, which helped me run a smoother line, which helped me getting the power down coming off. I paid close attention to the lines Jim, Colin, Nathan and (early on) Doug were taking going into 3 in the Feature and I think I learned a trick or two on how to be even better on entry on a slick, flat track.