Laurie Cannister Edmonton preview

Cannister Headed West Lookin’ For More Gold…Or Is That Iron?

Johnstown, OH – While it hasn’t been a perfectly flawless season for the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce IHRA Alcohol Funny Car, it has been about as close as a team has been in a long time. Three out of four final round appearances in as many events in 2008 have turned into wins for the driver who only a year ago could only dream of driving again--and that driver is Laurie Cannister.

Cannister is not only enjoying but relishing each and every moment of her spectacular season thus far. “I’m going to try not to sound cliché, but I’m just enjoying it all, one race at a time. I’m not trying to rush the season. It’s awesome to be out here with the people I call my friends and family, who some just happen to also be my competitors. The IHRA family, from the guys at Tech to the Track Rescue folks, make it just that much more fun, good runs or not so good runs. I just love being a part of each event.”

The next event will be a much different race not only for Laurie, but for the entire Kalbones Grill’n Sauce crew. Not just in the venue, but the altitude. That could prove to make it quite interesting for the entire team, especially from a tuner’s standpoint.

As the team prepares for their first time competing at the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada track, Kalbones’ tuner Dale Cannister is looking forward to the challenge. "Edmonton is going to be a new battleground for me in that I haven't tuned the car in as high of altitude as we will have there. It's going to be interesting to see how we do.”

The fans at the fifth stop on the IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam tour will be in for a treat as each of the IHRA’s four professional classes will get the opportunity to make four qualifying attempts, something that normally is not a part of the rest of the tour’s regular schedule. This should not only prove to be a good thing for the attending fans, but for the teams such as the Kalbones’ team who plan to take full advantage.

"I'm looking forward to going to Edmonton especially since we get a fourth qualifying pass at this race that we don't get at any other race. Hopefully, it will give us the chance to test a few things we’ve been wanting to all year,” Dale Cannister adds.

Before Cannister takes to the track in the Kalbones’ Grill’n Sauce AFC, she gets a chance to meet and talk to some of the Edmonton area media. There is a special media day that Laurie will participate in on Thursday morning prior to the weekend’s event. “This really should be a whole lot of fun, especially when you consider who my media day co-horts are planned to be--Dale Creasy, Jr. and Terry McMillen. I think I may be in for quite a morning! I’m not sure the media will be ready for all this,” Cannister laughed.

Cannister is quite excited to compete at the Western Canada facility. “Getting to race there will be great, of course, because the Canadian fans are second to none. What may be the biggest bonus over the other trips I have made there while working for other teams is I finally get to fly there and not have to drive the rig,” she exclaimed.

Already at an eighty-three percent win record since her return late last season, Cannister looks to continue the momentum the team has managed to build up and continue their good fortunes during their first ever trip out west.

The Kalbones Grill’n Sauce Alcohol Funny Car team’s quest for the IHRA Championship continues this weekend during the Rocky Mountain Nationals held at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta, July 4-6.


(Release courtesy of Kathy Fisher - Photos courtesy of Roger Richards and CompetitionPlus.com)

Laurie Cannister Fast Fan Facts
Birthday - July 23
Hometown - Johnstown, Ohio with husband, Tuner Dale Cannister
Children - Samson "Our Son" - Norwegian Elkhound
2008 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car Champion - Texas Nationals (San Antonio), Spring Nationals (Rockingham), President’s Cup Nationals (Budds Creek)
2008 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car Runner-Up – Motor City Nationals (Milan)
2002 & 2007 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car Champion - President's Cup Nationals (Budds Creek)
2000 IHRA Pro Outlaw World Champion
1999 IHRA Pro Rookie of the Year
Career quickest Quarter Mile elapsed time is 5.669
Career fastest Quarter Mile speed is 246.89
Career quickest Eighth Mile elapsed time is 3.731 (Current IHRA ET Record)
Career fastest Eighth Mile speed is 198.32 (Current IHRA Speed Record)
Cannister is the fastest and quickest female driver in IHRA Alcohol Funny Car history (Eighth & Quarter Mile)


About Kalbones Grill'n Sauce:
Serious Sauce for Serious Grill'n! We make it easy for you to become a grill master with our unique family recipe using only the finest and freshest ingredients. There are two secrets to producing great barbecue. The first is the slow cooking process which allows the meat to tenderize while maintaining all of the moist, natural, mouth-watering juices. The second is the sauce. Kalbones is a Southern Virginia style sauce which enhances and compliments the natural flavor of the meat with a distinctive home-style barbeque flavor. Whether the occasion is a pig pickin', tailgate party, or a backyard barbeque, Kalbones is your essential ingredient to success. Six mouth watering flavors to choose from and a new rub.

Better yet - Try them all! Mop Kalbones on beef, poultry, and seafood too - It's "not jus' for yer butts!"

For more information about Kalbones Grill'n Sauce, ordering, contests and great recipes visit - http://www.kalbones.com

Special Thanks to – Flatout Gaskets – www.flatoutgaskets.com

For More Info or Photos Contact – Kathy Fisher
Performance by Fisher Productions
Lima, Ohio
Web – www.performancebyfisher.com
Email – team_pr@performancebyfisher.com