Mike says the car has many unique pieces that make it different and he doesn't go with the "norm" that everyone else uses. He credits his Liberty's Gears transmission with at least a three mile per hour gain over anything else he's used, which might help explain the incredible mph this car runs. The car uses the intercooler out of the late Steve Grebeck's Mustang, which was donated by Harry Hruska from Precision Turbo, so a part of Steve Grebeck always is along for the ride.

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After the Orlando World Nationals in 2003 where the car shook the tires so severely that it launched the wheel tub through the rear window, the team was determined to solve their problems. They tested in Norwalk, OH and finally had success making three complete passes down the track (the quickest being 6.39 at 233), but with a very soft tune-up and slipping the clutch to the point it was severely wounded each pass.

Over the winter, Mike and team put the car on a severe diet, replacing everything they could with carbon fiber and titanium pieces. He said the savings alone in titanium is at least 170 lbs. One thing "weighing" on the minds of everyone is just that -- how much does it weigh?

"I weighed it in front of a crowd of people in Virginia and it weighed 2520 pounds with me in it," Moran said. "All these people that are saying I was at weight are full of it, they need to quit crying and realize I was light. When I put the weight back in the car I think it can run 6.50's and 6.60's, which is in line with what the other guys are running.

"The guys in the Street car sanctioning bodies don't want any part of it, though, as they've already threatened to load up and go home if I pull in," he added.

The team loaded up and left the cold of Michigan behind to head for killer air of Houston, TX in February to the Pro Stock SuperBowl. Attempts to hook the power broke the drivetrain three times and forced the team to load up and regroup. Moran came back to Darlington for the Winternationals where the first hit broke the drivetrain again -- at which time he decided another approach was needed. After several conversations with Warren Johnson, Jeff Stange at Strange Engineering, and many other driveline gurus, they all thought Moran might be a few aces shy of a full deck since no one had ever broken a 1350 U-Joint which is designed to handle 4300 ft/lbs of torque without shearing.

This caused Moran to second-guess himself but then a "light" went off that while the motor isn't making over 4300 ft/lbs of torque, if you combine that with the multiplier of the transmission, it is well over the limit.

Jeff Stange and Tom Reider (Precision Gear) worked closely to develop a more robust pinion, transmission yoke and new U-joint technology. Reider also made special 9.5-inch rear gears for the turbo missile.

Moran says they're just blazing a trail into uncharted territory and believes eventually all the Pro Modified competitors will need this technology. Also unique to this combination is the 36-inch developmental Hoosier tires trying to apply the ungodly torque of this animal to the ground. Moran's first run in Virginia didn't quite get him the e.t. he was looking for (only a 6.97, shutting off early) but it did tell him that the drivetrain appeared to be able to stand up to the power. The next run out, the team threw everything at it and shook the tires and had to shut down.