I'm intersted in what tranny he was running, and cut by whom.
I know that I run sand, and there is a difference in that and pavement...but my stock cut tranny (no billet) has been bullet proof for hundreds and hundreds of passes, not a single issue.
I only have a 68mm cub, but we're not talking a 20 to 40 HP difference, maybe a handful at best.
If he was running a full 1-6 override...than I can believe it. They are temperamental....but some have had very good luck with them still.
2nd gear is the weakest in the tranny...but if he's riding pavement, I can't see him launching in 2nd.
If you want to run a 1-6 on pavement, my advice is to talk to Whitaker, WCR racing...