Ye, they did! The all-powerful 351C cars (too many to list) suffered weight breaks, at one point, every single outing. Chrysler/Dodge also go the same "treatment" to a lesser extent, all to please the GM crowd. Glidden and Nicholson mentioned the once a week changes to the 351C cars was to prevent the Fords from quickly using de-stroked (lesser CID) engines. Didn't work as the top runners did indeed have small(er) CID short blocks ready to go and could, even at the track, swap on their latest heads/intakes. The Hemi crowd had fewer options but did use de-stroked 396 CID Hemis.
Ah, but when all those shenanigans failed to please the Chevy crowd and didn't work, voila! Outlaw the small CID engines and start using 500 CID engines. Glidden still killed those Camaros with his all-conquering Boss 429 based engines but when he hung it up, it became an all Chevy (engine and car) feast. Hence, the waning interest today in all things Pro Stock.
NHRA got what it wanted but at what price? Fools, one and all.