Laurie Cannister Epping wrap up

Cannister clinches IHRA Championship in Epping
Rewrites history in the process

September 9, 2008 – Johnstown, Ohio – Over the last few months many have questioned Laurie Cannister, driver of Kevin and Wendy Sims’ Kalbones Grill’n Sauce AFC, about how she felt about the IHRA World Championship. Her answer was always something like, “I’m racing round-by-round and letting the points take care of themselves. When it’s written down in black and white, I’ll believe it.” Even though she and the Kalbones team maintained the points lead from race one of the 2008 Nitro Jam season, Cannister did her best not to let it affect her or the team’s mindset during any of the events.

Well Laurie, here it is in “black and white.” After the completion of the Amalie North American Nationals at New England Dragway, Laurie Cannister is the 2008 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car World Champion. The AFC class was the first of the five professional IHRA Championships to be decided for 2008.

And that’s not all. Laurie has written yet another new page in the IHRA history books. She is also now the first woman to win two Professional IHRA World Championships. The first of those two was the 2000 World Championship in Pro Outlaw.

The Kalbones Grill’n Sauce team was anxious to compete in the Epping, New Hampshire IHRA event this past weekend. The facility is known for producing some stellar numbers in all professional categories with its near sea-level altitude and normally cooler September air. Not to forget the fact that the team, in what some could still consider their freshman season, could sew up their first AFC Championship.

All eyes were on the weather as, at first, Hurricane Hanna was forecast to bear down on the New England States and possibly wreak havoc on the race. The Kalbones team knew they needed to get down the track and post a good number Friday during what might be the only qualifying session of the event. Not only were they able to do so, but managed to out qualify the two teams that still had a chance of overtaking them in the point’s chase.

“Not knowing if we were going to get to be on the track at all on Saturday, Dale was extra cautious in his tune up,” Laurie said. “We weren’t going out there to set the world on fire, just to make a good (pauses) clean run. The air changed so much throughout the weekend. We were all lucky enough to get one more hit in on Saturday before Hanna drenched us that evening.”

The Kalbones’ team wanted to at least be able to qualify for the Epping event and possibly go round-for-round with numbers two and three in the IHRA AFC points, Paul Noakes and Rob Atchison, respectively. Once they were solidly on the ladder for race day, the early congratulations on winning the championship started rolling in from the racing community. The first to do so was fellow competitor Rob Atchison.

“Saturday night, as we were all kinda huddled under the awning with Tropical Storm Hanna blowing through, I popped over next door to Rob’s (Atchison) pit for a moment. I have to admit, I was kind of taken back when he congratulated me,” Laurie laughed. “I still can’t believe it and it may take until the banquet for it to all really start setting in. I mean, I know we’ve had one awesome season, but it’s still all so surreal. To be able to work side-by-side with my husband Dale, in his first full year tuning the car, is a dream come true, and what we’ve always worked toward.”

“When you add in the rest of the wonderful people that make up the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce crew, I am very blessed. Mike Couch, Steve McQuillen, and Walt Adams are all just a blast to be around. It’s also very special for me to have my dad, Bob Rauenswinter, share this experience with me. He’s been racing with us from day one and I can’t imagine him not being a big part of the team.” Laurie smiled.

“Obviously, none of this would be possible for any of us without Kevin and Wendy Sims. They are not just the team owners, they are the special people who brought us all together and gave us the tools we needed to make this championship season possible, not to mention how much fun they are to be around.” Laurie added.

While the 2008 IHRA AFC Championship may be in the books, there is one final race left on the schedule. Dale Cannister is looking forward to using, what he hopes will be, the cool air to test in at the World Finals in Rockingham next month. “We are still going to race for it in Rockingham, even though we will be testing some things. We hope to finish this season the way we started it and would love to lay down some sixty’s, if Mother Nature will cooperate,” he smiled. “We did it last fall and I’m looking to build on that for 2009.”

The IHRA family will have an extended break prior to the season finale next month at Rockingham Dragway. The World Finals will take place October 17-19. From what this writer hears, it will be one gigantic party that you won’t want to miss!

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 World Champion
2008 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car Champion - Texas Nationals (San Antonio), Spring Nationals (Rockingham), President’s Cup Nationals (Budds Creek), Rocky Mountain Nationals (Edmonton) & Northern Nationals (Martin)
2008 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car Runner-Up – Motor City Nationals (Milan) & Sooner Nationals (Tulsa)
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)

All race team related info and photos – www.kalbonesracing.com

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