Head gasket getting oval?

If you're driving around on 98 to 100 octane gas, with a 10.5 compression ratio, aluminum heads, I don't think that is your problem. As an example, contestants in "Engine Masters" have run over 12 to 1 on pump gas which I believe was/is 96 octane.

You bought this engine used, which is no big deal, done every day; did the previous owner have trouble he didn't tell you about? Did you change any thing before you put the engine into the car? He got 2000 miles, you've gotten a couple of burn outs, and some 1/4 mile runs. The ratio of run time to problems encountered just don't add up.