Sometime waiting by the phone for something to happen can be an agonizing experience. IHRA Alcohol Funny Car racer Laurie Cannister hopes she never has to endure the same experience again.

In 2002, Cannister’s independent effort of fielding a professional team out of her pocket came to an end after a handful of races but not before she exhibited a wealth of marketing potential.

For five years, Cannister did her very best to will the phone to ring. Her efforts paid off last year when a Virginia Beach, Virginia-based couple, who owns a grilling sauce company took a chance on her.

 

Sometime waiting by the phone for something to happen can be an agonizing experience. IHRA Alcohol Funny Car racer Laurie Cannister hopes she never has to endure the same experience again.

In 2002, Cannister’s independent effort of fielding a professional team out of her pocket came to an end after a handful of races but not before she exhibited a wealth of marketing potential.

For five years, Cannister did her very best to will the phone to ring. Her efforts paid off last year when a Virginia Beach, Virginia-based couple, who owns a grilling sauce company took a chance on her.

Kevin and Wendy Sims, owners of Kalbones Grilling Sauce, took the chance and Cannister has made them look all the better for their decision. Cannister and her husband Dale assembled a crew three weeks before the IHRA Torco Race Fuels President’s Cup Nationals in Budds Creek, Maryland.

They won the race.

One might call the triumph a fluke, but Cannister qualified No. 1 in the next event.

The third time out, three weeks ago in San Antonio, Cannister won again.

“I couldn’t ask for everything to work out better than it did,” Cannister said. “I had been waiting on that phone call for five years and I finally got it.”

For five seasons, Cannister experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, from a cheerleader point of view. Laurie and Dale traveled to the races in support of their friend and former tuner Jeff Fowler, who had accepted a tuner’s role with Tom Carter’s Pro Modified team before moving over to the Alcohol Funny Car.

The former world champion was nothing more than a spectator and drag racers traditionally make terrible race fans.

“It was really hard,” Cannister said. “Even though I know how to work on a car, I’ve always felt my place was inside the car. I know how to take care of a car but when you’re a driver – you’re a driver. That’s what you want to do and makes sitting outside of the car hard to do, especially when you are not inside steering.

“I did okay and I was always there,” said Cannister, who had parked her outfit in 2002. “We started helping Tom Carter with his Pro Modified and then his Funny Car. I was never really out of racing and spent time as a cheerleader for the class and supported everybody.

“It’s not like I was really ever gone, I was just out of the seat and for a driver (it's) very hard to be a spectator.”

Cannister admitted she put on her best face and accepted her role for the particular time.

“Everyone in the class still made us feel welcome even though we were helping a team out there,” Cannister said. “The camaraderie was still there. The friendships have held on this whole time whether I was driving or not. I’ve gotten a warm reception from everyone. They have told me it’s good to have me back.”

Cannister was more than glad to be back and quickly discovered the thrill of competition had never left her. The thrill of competition was there, even when she faced off against Carter during eliminations.

We knew it was bound to happen sooner or later,” Cannister said. “That’s how we looked at it and I knew Dale would give me a good car. Tom is no different than any of the other competitors and I won’t treat him any different, either. I wasn’t going to let the fact I used to work with him get in my head.”

What could have easily been another awkward position was when Dale pulled his wife into the staging beams as Fowler pulled Carter in. Fowler had been Cannister’s tuner ever since she became a professional drag racer except for this time.

“It’s a little strange because we were always together,” Cannister said. “That’s how some racing relationships change. We all still get along and it’s no problem.”

Cannister’s greatest gratification is in seeing Dale get the opportunity to tune the Kalbones Grilling Sauce entry.

“I’m excited that Dale gets to tune a car,” Cannister said. “He gets to make the decisions after he talks them over with Mike Couch, the crew chief. It’s just neat to showcase his talent. He’s no longer in the shadows anymore.

“I’m as excited for Dale to be able to showcase his talents as I am to be back in the car.”

For now, Cannister is enjoying the moment in leading the point’s standings, something she hasn’t been able to claim since 2000.

“It’s an awesome feeling and even before when I raced in Funny Car, we were never No. 1 in points,” Cannister said.