SMITH BEGINS PRO MOD SEASON QUEST

In the final four events of the 2003 season, Von Smith was the hottest driver of the NHRA AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge. This season the driver of the Tommy Lipar Racing Mustang GT hopes that competing an entire season will put him at the head of the class.

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Smith, who spent eight years driving Top Alcohol Funny Cars in both IHRA and NHRA, went to the final round is all four Pro Modified events he raced last year, winning the final two.

"I believe a good driver is capable of driving any type of car," said Smith. "The first time I tested the Pro Mod, I was all over the track. I learned quickly that you couldn't drive the Pro Mod as aggressively as you can a Funny Car."

Smith gives much of last year's success to crew chief Howard Moon. "I can get out of the car and tell him what the car is doing or not doing. It's uncanny. We can look at each other after a pass and go, yep, that's the move I'd make too. Howard and I gel very well."

The 10-race AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge begins March 18-21 at the Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville, FL. (Bryan Ellis photo) [3-16-2004]

PICK UP THE PIECES

After the final round of competition at the Gators, Scott Kalitta's Mac Tools/Jesse James Top Fuel dragster will go to pieces. But don't worry, that's just what they have planned.

In partnership with the new and similarly decorated Mac(r) Limited Edition Jesse James Flame Box commemorative toolbox, 1,000 planks of the high-speed magnesium body will be slapped on individual plaques that provide a convenient display for their accompanying diecast replica of the dragster. The package is available for purchase from (here's the plug) 1-800-MAC-TOOLS. [3-16-2004]