Car died for 20 min after a few bouts of hard acceleration

Actually, that isn't a bad thought- Although I'd consider bad tank venting instead of vapor lock.
Yeah I had it happen 20 + years ago on my 318 in my dart. It was a 600 Holley with headers. The fix ended up being I had to pull the fuel line 1/4 inch from the exhaust and it never happened again. But I would put gas in it get going hard on the highway and it would shut down like out of gas...I put up with it for a while stopping on the side of the road waiting for 15 minutes then it would start up etc. it would do it alot in the summer in summer also. I figure gas was boiling in the lines good ol vapor lock. I will also say this that was my first experience with vapor lock before that I thought it was a myth but it really happens especially with todays gas.