Laurie Cannister Rockingham wrap up

Introducing the Cannister Freight Train Powered by Kalbones

Rockingham, NC (April 20) – Hop on and hang on tight, this train, known as the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce Alcohol Funny Car, shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon and neither does driver Laurie Cannister.

If the story looks familiar, it may be because The IHRA Spring Nationals was almost an exact repeat of the first race just two short weeks ago in San Antonio. The Kalbones crew nabbed the number one qualifying spot during all three sessions. The team managed to slaughter the field once again leaving nothing on the table. They claimed both “Last Man Standing” honors during the Friday and Saturday evening qualifying sessions. What makes this an even more amazing story is the fact that in the twelve total Alcohol Funny Car sessions in 2008 the Kalbones team has had the low ET pass in each and every one of those.

The steam behind this train is the fantastic crew that has been assembled by long time Kalbones Racing crew chief, Mike Couch. Mike was unable to attend this weekend’s event due to his daughter’s wedding, but you can bet that he was not only in constant contact with the team, but cheering them on from afar.

Laurie depended on some of that steam during the first round of competition when she lined up against Neal Parker. Parker is known for cutting down the tree and Cannister had one of her worst reaction times of the weekend. Thanks to tuner Dale Cannister and his ability to read the racetrack, Laurie had the power and was able to drive around Parker in what would be a narrow .009 margin of victory.

“Oh I absolutely beat myself to death after that first round,” Laurie said. “When Neal Parker left and all I saw was red car, I knew I was in serious trouble. But luckily my crew had the car running really good and got me to drive around him.”

The first round win would pit Laurie in the semi-finals against Tom Carter and eventually on to the final round match up once again with Rob Atchison in the other lane.

Before the Kalbones team could make it to the final, a few parts needed to swapped out on the funny car.

“The Brand’s, the Co-Line Welding Team lent me their front tires and wheels. When we came back from the semi-final round, there were chunks out of both of the front tires,” explained Laurie. “We actually had a hurt cylinder at that point too. Number one was hurt pretty bad, so we were a little concerned about it. We didn’t know how it was going to run down track.”

It ran alright and then some. The final pass for the Kalbones Racing team was the fastest pass of the weekend, a 5.71. Laurie was quite surprised to see the time slip. “Actually I put the thing into third gear and was still going really fast and right in the lights it quit and about threw me right into the windshield. I knew something was bad but I saw my win light and I’m like I don’t care this is perfect. I won and that’s all that matters. We can fix it, we have a month.”

Reflecting on the huge success the Kalbones team has enjoyed so far this season Laurie just hopes they are able to keep it up. “It’s tough to stay at the top once you get there, there’s no doubt about that. But I know I have the crew and the backing behind me with Kalbones and with Flatout’s (Gaskets) help and that we’ll get it all back together with all the right parts and we’ll keep going.”

Next train station stop for this wild locomotive is Milan, Michigan and the IHRA Motor City Nationals, May 23-25.


Laurie Cannister Fast Fan Facts
Birthday - July 23
Hometown - Johnstown, Ohio with husband, Tuner Dale Cannister
Children - Samson "Our Son" - Norwegian Elkhound
2002 & 2007 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car Champion - President's Cup Nationals (Budds Creek)
2008 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car Champion - Texas Nationals (San Antonio) & Spring Nationals (Rockingham)
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