Will launching in second gear hurt the trans?

I've done it quite a few times in my 8.20 in the 1/8 mile Duster that has a 3.55 gear and the low gear set 904 transmission with a TCI converter. Instead of stalling it to 2500 as I do when leaving in low gear, I stall it to 3000 and leave in second gear and run it through without shifting to high. It slows it down from 8.20 to 8.60. I've had the same converter for about 3 years and put around 1000 runs on it with no problem. I will do this when the track is bad and I spin on the line. Lately I have been disconnecting the secondaries on my 600 Holley DP and run it on the 2 barrells and still leave in low gear. It runs about 8.60 this way also but it is more consistant than leaving in 2nd gear and I can hit the tree just as good as when the 4 barrell is connected. I have to hit the tree slightly harder leaving in 2nd gear. I deep stage BTW.