Laurie Cannister Grand Bend wrap up

Cannister Experiences Supercharged Hiccup at Grand Bend

July 23, 2008 – Johnstown, Ohio – The Kalbones Grill’n Sauce IHRA Alcohol Funny Car team could have held their breath, possibly drank from the other side of the sauce bottle, or maybe even had hoped that Mark Thomas would have jumped out from the side of the race trailer and scared it out of them. But as we all know, that’s not the kind of hiccups we’re talking about here.

It would be the same kind of season hiccup that plagued another funny car team during the same weekend who is also sitting at number one at the top of their class, NHRA NFC driver Tim Wilkerson. Although many miles away and two different sanctioning bodies, both Wilkerson’s and Cannister’s teams were using new parts during their respective events, with very similar outcomes. Growing pains...or as referred to earlier, hiccups.

In the case of the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce AFC, the new part was a brand new blower that the team had wanted to test for months. The opportunities to do so outside of a race weekend just did not work out in favor for the Cannister-driven ride.

So why test now at the Mopar Canadian Nationals in Grand Bend? “We just bit the bullet and decided to do it. It’s kinda tough to decide when, during race season,” Laurie explained. “The season keeps getting shorter and shorter and we still hadn’t tried it. So you know what, we just decided to strap it on and go with it from the very first qualifying pass and run it all weekend. We didn’t pick Grand Bend specifically; it was just as good of time as any.”

The Kalbones team struggled some with the new combination although netting a number six qualifier spot through the first two sessions, and managed to find a little more come the final session Saturday night to nab the number two spot for race day. Not too bad considering the ninety-six percent humidity that played a factor into Dale Cannister’s tune-up during the last session.

First round would find Laurie and long-time class favorite Mark Thomas in an extremely close drag race, measured by not hundredths, but thousandths at the stripe. “It was one of those things where I could feel that he was right there, but I couldn’t see him. I felt like that I was out on him down track, so when I saw my win light come on, I was really relieved that we got the Kalbones car past first round,” said Laurie. “When I came around the top end and spoke to Stagin’ Steve over the track PA and he says ‘You won that race by eight thousandths’, I just couldn’t believe it was that close. But I’m kinda glad, since that is what really puts on a good show for the fans--close drag races.”

During the semi-final match-up, Cannister and the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce crew weren’t quite so lucky. After rolling in deep, Larry Dobbs was able to put together a better package. Dobbs pulled away from Cannister just past half track to take the win and hold Cannister back from the final round for the first time of the 2008 season.

Tuner Dale Cannister reflects on the outcome of the Grand Bend event. “Did we expect to be in every final this season? No of course not, but our team is far from broken and we are pretty pleased with what we learned using the new blower. It was something that needed to be done and now we know what it wants and doesn’t want. That information will be a tremendous help heading into the home stretch of the year.”

“Although we didn’t gain any ground on the points chase, we still came out of Grand Bend with a 167 point lead over Rob (Atchison). Things could have been much worse,” Laurie added. “That’s only a net loss of four points of where we were going in. By no means is this championship wrapped up. Look at how tight the points are between the second through fourth guys. Nobody has given up on a shot at the championship and they shouldn’t. I certainly wouldn’t if I was them. This championship is not locked up yet, nor has it been. With Rob going out the same round, it definitely helped and that’s how the points take care of themselves without you worrying about them.”

With an off weekend ahead on the IHRA Nitro Jam Tour, the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce AFC team will have the time needed to reassess the information they gained in Grand Bend and begin their next plan of attack for the upcoming event at US 131 in Martin, Michigan.

(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) & Rocky Mountain Nationals (Edmonton)
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