Fellas,
Relax. Your mega-buck (make sure you explain just how much MONEY it takes to get a 6 to run like you describe) Jap cars run fine. The category here is RACING, not STREETING... And save your "They aren't THAT expensive" argument. I build engines (including Mitsis and Toys) for a living. They ARE that expensive.
Every time someone asks about an entry-level race car, I recommend what is easiest and least expensive for a learning tool. Invariably, someone calls me out on this stuff. I go to the track about 20 times a year, between customers, shows and own-stuff "fun". The ricers are outnumbered 20 to 1 and seldom win ANYTHING. That's why they keep to themselves and have their own sanctioning body, which, BTW, bans all American made 8 cylinder engines, and some of the better running 4s and 6s. See, we don't race magazines, we race CARS. Not unlike the Patriots against the Giants, you must actually run the race! And understand, if built to the same level as that 230 MPH Supra, a V8-powered Camaro will go near 300 (TA/FC). Yes, I've seen the NOPI stuff and their high 6 second times. I've also seen the NHRA "Sport Compact" FWD 4-cylinder American cars go deeper into the 6s.
And you're right. There IS no replacement for displacement. For the same money one can build a monster Toyota 6 (7-800 HP range) that may complete 20 passes down the 1/4 mile before it burns or breaks something, one can build a BBC that makes the same power, for YEARS. Turbos and nitrous wreak havoc on the longevity of an engine. That 1,000 HP Toyota you speak of costs more to build than a Brad Anderson Hemi... A BA Hemi makes about 8,000...
This was not intended as a "mine is better than yours". It is to help educate a newbie without clouding his mind with a bunch of pie-in-the-sky. Of course, if he DOES have an extra 30 or 50K lying around, he could jump in at the highest level... Gimme a break and stop rationalizing your own choices.
Jim