You don't need a stroker to make 500 or even 600+ HP with a small block. Like cackedback said good heads will do it. Put your money there and build the motor around them and it will do it. And with the short stroke it will rev fast and high Up around 7+ grand, thats where the power is at. A stroker adds more to the torque then the HP. Good for a street car but not needed for a drag car.