Dan!
Repeat after me........
D-R-A-G ..... R-A-D-I-A-L-S !
I've lifted both front tires before on a street launch with my Keith Craft, Pond aluminum block, 482", dual quad, stage II head Cobra. They CAN hook well, well enough to twist the ends on some 9" 28 spline axles
I've never had my car to the track though, all the carnage has been generated by street driving.
I'm running 315/35/17 M/T ET drag radials. They, or any other reputable drag radial, will hook better than any Billboards or "track type" tire could ever hope to do at the drags. The 35 aspect ratio series drag radials actually seems to do right well in the twisties too, much better than a regular street tire. They in no way can be considered "slicks" either.