If your wires or distributor cap are really shot it could cause an occasional misfire during the intake stroke which could cause a backfire if that might be what you are hearing.

It could also be detonation, but that is more of a crackly, pingy sound.

It could also be a bad valve train part such as a broken valve spring, bad rocker or bent pushrod.

If a lifter is collapsing at high rpms that would cause a constant ticking sound that I don't think most people would describe as a pop.