Holland, you are in the right spot and USFRA is a great place to start your addiction. If you want to know if your car will go 176 you will have to run it on the salt. The 150 club lets you run 159. That will get you a really good baseline. If you run out of power, there are several formulas on this site that will tell you how much more HP you need to go a faster. HP to speed is not linear....
If you have time in Aug and Sept, come to speedweek, see what it is about. Bring the car to WoS in Sept, run it in the 150 club. Rules on the USFRA site, just don't be too surprised if you don't make it to 150.... you are timed after the 2 to the 2 1/4, it is not as easy as many think. Read the rules, have some fun, stop by and say hi.
Then if you are addicted to speed, start building... safety equipment estimate may a couple of grand low... how's your cage...
The lowest octane fuel available from ERC is 100.