Returning to his IHRA roots in 2003, he ran six of the 12 events on the TAFC circuit and finished No. 7 in points before assuming the driving duties of the Lipar Racing-owned 2003 Ford Mustang GT Pro Mod for the final four races of the 2003 NHRA AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge.

The change in mid-season didn't seem to hurt Smith from a driving standpoint.

"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. Also, it took some adjustment to get use to where you drive the two cars from. In the Funny Car, I sat in the center of the car, but the Pro Mod is a left-side drive. Other that that, I feel I adapted rather well. The challenge made it easier for me.

"I attribute a great of my success to my 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."

Lipar Racing, Von Smith, Harold Moon and crew will vie for both the NHRA AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge championship, along with the IHRA Pro Mod championship in 2004. The team's past performance says don't sell them short but

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Smith says there will be plenty of competition to go around.

"There's enough good drivers and teams out there," reflected Smith. "The addition of Scotty (Cannon) changes the whole persona of the class. You can't mention Pro Modified without mentioning Scotty. Scotty will win on will alone. I'm looking for an extremely competitive season.

"On the nitrous side, you will see Rickie Smith and Shannon Jenkins step up. The supercharged cars will win on numbers alone. Mitch Stott, who won IHRA last year, and Fred Hahn, who won NHRA, will be tough. Quain Stott, Thomas Patterson and the names go on and on. Anybody can win this year. We should be in the hunt, whether we win it or not. If fate or luck or destiny is on our side, then we can win the whole thing."

Howard Moon says, "Our outlook is very positive. I see some big things for this class over the next year. I feel the performance of a lot of teams will pick up as soon as the season starts. We plan to be ready when the first green light blinks. Our plans call for us to content for both championships."

Regarding running for the two championships, Smith adds, "The burden is not on me. I'm the lucky guy who gets to drive this Lipar Racing Mustang. The burden is on everybody else -- mainly the crew and sponsors. My work schedule allows me to get away when I need to and be where I need to be. The pressure is usually on everybody else."