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Johnstown, Ohio (May 17) - The racing gods have been very favorable to the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce IHRA AFC team and driver Laurie Cannister so far during the 2008 season. With a two-for-two win record for the team thus far, they have had an outstanding start to the year. The team looks forward to carrying their success into the next IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam event this week at Milan Dragway in Milan, MI.
Driving sensation Laurie Cannister knows it takes the entire team to net the results they have enjoyed since the start of the year. As she prepares for the Motor City Nationals, Cannister is feeling extra anticipation with the return of Crew Chief Mike Couch.
"We are all looking forward to having Mike be there with us,” she said. “It seems like such a long time since he's been at the track. Although, we have stayed in constant contact with him each race, it's never the same as him being there."
Although never more than a phone call away during the first two events of the season, Couch was unable to attend the San Antonio and Rockingham races. First due to an illness and second to attend his daughter’s wedding.
“Of course it just killed me not being there,” said Couch. “I wanted to be with the team no matter what, but to miss the fantastic outcome of the first two events just makes me even more anxious to join Dale (Cannister) and the rest of the team at the track. I’m just real excited to get back out there with everyone”
“No more long distance help,” he laughed. “Now I think I’ll just throw my cell phone away and enjoy getting my hands dirty along side the rest of the crew.”
Tuner Dale Cannister is also looking forward to Mike re-joining the team during competition as they will go into test mode following the Milan event. "We are working on a few things that we would like to try, but with only getting three qualifying sessions, we decided to stay and test Monday after the event. Hopefully, all the ideas we have will work out."
Based on the computer data the team has been able to acquire since the start of the season, both Mike and Dale know the car has much more in it.
“We’re real confident with what we have seen so far. Like Dale said, we’re going to hang out on Monday and try some things out that you just can’t do during qualifying, let alone race day. This car has more in it and we’re going to shake it right out of her,” explained Couch.
While the Kalbones team has been on fire since the beginning of the season, they just didn’t feel complete without having Couch at the races. Couch describes the team’s consensus as, “It’s kinda felt like we’ve been on seven cylinders so far and now it’s time to fire on all eight. By no means am I referring to our on track performance but to the extra set of hands I can provide to the rest of my racing family. I can’t tell you how happy I am to get back out there and work together side-by-side.”
“I guess you could say with both Dale and I, the team will be packing double guns from here on out,” he added.
When asked of his thoughts about the Kalbones Racing crew, Couch just smiled for a moment before paying these compliments. “I’m real proud of how everyone has pulled more than their fair share of weight during my absence at the events. What’s so cool is that Dale and I share the same the philosophy when it comes to the set-up for race day or any day and man I’m really looking forward to what we can do together. You know, and not over the phone.”
As Couch and the rest of the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce AFC team look ahead to the remaining nine races on the 2008 tour, he emphasizes that they will continue the same plan of attack that got them the points lead driver Laurie Cannister holds. “We will do the very best we can at every track we go to. By that I mean we race the race track and what Mother Nature deals us. Yeah we’re excited with the lead we have right now, but we won’t let that get in our heads. That’s just not the way we run this operation and we don’t worry about who is in the other lane either. Anyone at anytime can step up so we know it’s always best to run our own race. This is one of the toughest fields of IHRA Alcohol Funny Car I think I have ever seen and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
The action continues this week with the third stop on the 2008 IHRA Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam tour in Milan, Michigan at the IHRA Motor City Nationals, May 23-25.
(Photo courtesy of Roger Richards and CompeitionPlus.com)
Laurie Cannister Fast Fan Facts
Cannister Rolls Into Milan “Double Packin”
Johnstown, Ohio (May 17) - The racing gods have been very favorable to the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce IHRA AFC team and driver Laurie Cannister so far during the 2008 season. With a two-for-two win record for the team thus far, they have had an outstanding start to the year. The team looks forward to carrying their success into the next IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam event this week at Milan Dragway in Milan, MI.
Driving sensation Laurie Cannister knows it takes the entire team to net the results they have enjoyed since the start of the year. As she prepares for the Motor City Nationals, Cannister is feeling extra anticipation with the return of Crew Chief Mike Couch.
"We are all looking forward to having Mike be there with us,” she said. “It seems like such a long time since he's been at the track. Although, we have stayed in constant contact with him each race, it's never the same as him being there."
Although never more than a phone call away during the first two events of the season, Couch was unable to attend the San Antonio and Rockingham races. First due to an illness and second to attend his daughter’s wedding.
“Of course it just killed me not being there,” said Couch. “I wanted to be with the team no matter what, but to miss the fantastic outcome of the first two events just makes me even more anxious to join Dale (Cannister) and the rest of the team at the track. I’m just real excited to get back out there with everyone”
“No more long distance help,” he laughed. “Now I think I’ll just throw my cell phone away and enjoy getting my hands dirty along side the rest of the crew.”
Tuner Dale Cannister is also looking forward to Mike re-joining the team during competition as they will go into test mode following the Milan event. "We are working on a few things that we would like to try, but with only getting three qualifying sessions, we decided to stay and test Monday after the event. Hopefully, all the ideas we have will work out."
Based on the computer data the team has been able to acquire since the start of the season, both Mike and Dale know the car has much more in it.
“We’re real confident with what we have seen so far. Like Dale said, we’re going to hang out on Monday and try some things out that you just can’t do during qualifying, let alone race day. This car has more in it and we’re going to shake it right out of her,” explained Couch.
While the Kalbones team has been on fire since the beginning of the season, they just didn’t feel complete without having Couch at the races. Couch describes the team’s consensus as, “It’s kinda felt like we’ve been on seven cylinders so far and now it’s time to fire on all eight. By no means am I referring to our on track performance but to the extra set of hands I can provide to the rest of my racing family. I can’t tell you how happy I am to get back out there and work together side-by-side.”
“I guess you could say with both Dale and I, the team will be packing double guns from here on out,” he added.
When asked of his thoughts about the Kalbones Racing crew, Couch just smiled for a moment before paying these compliments. “I’m real proud of how everyone has pulled more than their fair share of weight during my absence at the events. What’s so cool is that Dale and I share the same the philosophy when it comes to the set-up for race day or any day and man I’m really looking forward to what we can do together. You know, and not over the phone.”
As Couch and the rest of the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce AFC team look ahead to the remaining nine races on the 2008 tour, he emphasizes that they will continue the same plan of attack that got them the points lead driver Laurie Cannister holds. “We will do the very best we can at every track we go to. By that I mean we race the race track and what Mother Nature deals us. Yeah we’re excited with the lead we have right now, but we won’t let that get in our heads. That’s just not the way we run this operation and we don’t worry about who is in the other lane either. Anyone at anytime can step up so we know it’s always best to run our own race. This is one of the toughest fields of IHRA Alcohol Funny Car I think I have ever seen and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
The action continues this week with the third stop on the 2008 IHRA Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam tour in Milan, Michigan at the IHRA Motor City Nationals, May 23-25.
(Photo courtesy of Roger Richards and CompeitionPlus.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)
- 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)
