Tuning a Proform/Holley carb, what parts and tools?

Stop worrying about the track. Acceleration is complicated. Solve all the basic stuff first. Fuel pressure, Timing, choke.. Then work low throttle steady state.

You're also rushing your reading looking for answers. The big clue to that is your question about using a larger inlet valve. Take a deep breath and do a math example or draw a picture or whatever you need to do to understand the relation of pressure and force at the inlet valve. The first chapter in the Holley Carburetor book has very illustrations and explanations of how each system, including the inlet system, works. Use that as a go to reference. The more you grasp how the systems work, the better you'll get at rooting out what has to get done on any problem that comes up.