Chevrolet: Ignition timing, dirt car, crate motor

Question
I recently was 2 a friend of mine when he was setting the timing on his sportsman dirt car it has a Chevy 355 hyd cam & lifters for the most part it is supposed to be a 355 crate motor alum intake anyway my question is he was setting his timing with the idle set @ 3000rpm setting his light at 34Deg & hitting zero on the crank pointer. Sorry for asking does this make sense to anyone? And how does it work and what’s the advantage.

Answer
Jason;
Hi - yes it is a different way to time the engine-I never liked it but yes with a cam and a timing tape or a wheel on the harmonic bal. it should be done at 3000 r.p.m.s  for what ever the cam manuf. specs. are to be set at.I stick with the good old fashioned way and go from there. OK