Well I happen to sweat by the SP9000, but if your looking to be cost conscious, you're thinking about the wrong tire, they go for about 150 a tire. The falken Azenis happens to be just fine for what you sound like your going to be using it for (drag racing), the SP9000 is a great intermediate road race tire, but you will go through them very quickly if you're heating them up to get them hot for a 4K rpm launch.
You may want to look into the Nitto NT555R or the BF Goodridge Drag T/A, both of which hook very well off the line, but handle much better then most street leagal slicks.
Hey Trey,
by the way, if you like the SP9000, Michelin just came out with the Pilot Sport Cup in our size, and though they are ridiculously expensive($225), you can order them shaved, normal, or heat cycled, straight from Michelin to save some time scrubbing them in on the street.
Later!
Aj