He didn't drive or work on it for like 2+ years & got back into it...
It's done that a lot prior too...
I think it had wheelie bars (at one time) & he broke them
no idea why he doesn't use them still or again
& Yes it's a bit easier today to make huge power w/huge cids,
his is a 8:71 Blown Alum 526cid EFO Hemi, pretty much no expense spared...
He's doing it with a 6 speed, hydraulic clutch, sort of lil' tires 29 x 10.5's (I think)
Many are near 588-600 cid is the new norm,
to even
run just 9's in a 3,000# car with 31" & up big tires 
some do it on a 275 Radial too, that's nuts...
& yes makes it easier to do today...
Still have to know what you're doing...
But mostly all the checkbook builders with deep pockets helps
(Helps the SEMA industry too)
Big boost, blown Roots or centrifugal, probably most responsible for the fast stuff
& tunable to
nth degree EFI, & some have traction control, & $10k shocks too
it all has certainly aided in it, people knowing how to tune it
&/or they will sell you a program & also their programmers, for a fee