CANNISTER PREPARED FOR CHALLENGE
Mon, 2008-03-10 10:01
Late in the 2007 season, Kevin and Wendy Sims of Kalbones Racing, Inc.
found themselves with a desire to return to the IHRA Alcohol Funny Car
ranks, if for no other reason than to have a little fun. Now mind you,
to the Sims having fun is a very serious business and something they
don’t take lightly.
After assembling what would turn into one top notch team on very short notice, they set out to test the waters during the final two races of the IHRA season. The hopes were to get a head start on a possible full run at the championship in 2008. Driver Laurie Cannister, along with her husband Dale Cannister as tuner, joined crew chief Mike Couch and other members already in place on the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce AFC team.
The proof was in the “sauce” that this newly merged group meant business. During their first outing, the team won the event at Budds Creek and qualified #1 at their second event during the World Finals at Rockingham Dragway.
Now that’s exactly the kind of fun Kevin and Wendy were looking for and immediately began to make plans for a full season charge in 2008. Late in the 2007 season, Kevin and Wendy Sims of Kalbones Racing, Inc. found themselves with a desire to return to the IHRA Alcohol Funny Car ranks, if for no other reason than to have a little fun. Now mind you, to the Sims having fun is a very serious business and something they don’t take lightly.
After assembling what would turn into one top notch team on very short notice, they set out to test the waters during the final two races of the IHRA season. The hopes were to get a head start on a possible full run at the championship in 2008. Driver Laurie Cannister, along with her husband Dale Cannister as tuner, joined crew chief Mike Couch and other members already in place on the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce AFC team.
The proof was in the “sauce” that this newly merged group meant business. During their first outing, the team won the event at Budds Creek and qualified #1 at their second event during the World Finals at Rockingham Dragway.
Now that’s exactly the kind of fun Kevin and Wendy were looking for and immediately began to make plans for a full season charge in 2008.
“With the win during our first outing, we were very happy with our new team,” exclaimed Wendy. “We are so excited for the new season to begin and just thrilled to think about this year’s possibilities.”
The Kalbones Grill’n Sauce team had planned to start their 2008 season with the test session in southern Georgia. Due to several unfortunate situations, the trip was called off and no testing will be done for the team prior to the season opener at San Antonio next month.
When asked if this would cause the team any problems, tuner Dale Cannister stressed that he couldn’t be less worried.
“Look at what we were able to put together in two weeks before our win at Budds Creek,” Dale explained. “We didn’t even have a complete car a couple of weeks before our first race last season, let alone any testing. Mike (Couch) and I are confident that we are ready for the first hit at San Antonio.”
“During the off season we didn’t need to make any wholesale changes to our setup. That makes a big difference in whether or not the lack of testing is critical to our team,” Couch added.
Driver Laurie Cannister has been ready. After spending the last several seasons being sidelined without a ride, she can’t wait to give back to her fans who have stuck by her over the years.
“I’m really looking forward to being with all our friends at the track, my fellow competitors and so many of the fans who have just been amazing,” Laurie said. “As many know, although I wasn’t driving, I had been helping out a couple of other IHRA teams for the past few years. It was always to nice to have so many people ask me at each race if I was there to drive and if not when was I coming back. Well now I am, this season is all for them.”
Laurie went on to explain how although every IHRA event has its own flavor and she’s anxious to compete at every one of them, some venues are just extra special to her.
“Racing in Canada is just the best. To say I’m looking forward to taking the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce car to Edmonton, Grand Bend and Toronto would be an understatement,” she said. “I haven’t always had the kind of luck I would like to up north, but the racing atmosphere is just different and it’s all because of the Canadian fans. I’ve never been down the track at Edmonton, so that will be another exciting race to look forward to this year.”
The IHRA Alcohol Funny Car class has been building quite the momentum over the last several years. The addition of a full season run for the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce team should prove to spice it up even more.
Team owner Kevin Sims lights up as he describes his vision for a blast at the championship.” We’ve run IHRA prior to working with Laurie and Dale, but this team just gives off a totally different vibe than anything we’ve assembled before. We have a new team, a new look for Kalbones Racing and best of all a new attitude. What more could I ask for? We’re going to give the fans a great show and there’s no doubt in my mind kick ass while we’re doing it.”
After assembling what would turn into one top notch team on very short notice, they set out to test the waters during the final two races of the IHRA season. The hopes were to get a head start on a possible full run at the championship in 2008. Driver Laurie Cannister, along with her husband Dale Cannister as tuner, joined crew chief Mike Couch and other members already in place on the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce AFC team.
The proof was in the “sauce” that this newly merged group meant business. During their first outing, the team won the event at Budds Creek and qualified #1 at their second event during the World Finals at Rockingham Dragway.
Now that’s exactly the kind of fun Kevin and Wendy were looking for and immediately began to make plans for a full season charge in 2008. Late in the 2007 season, Kevin and Wendy Sims of Kalbones Racing, Inc. found themselves with a desire to return to the IHRA Alcohol Funny Car ranks, if for no other reason than to have a little fun. Now mind you, to the Sims having fun is a very serious business and something they don’t take lightly.
After assembling what would turn into one top notch team on very short notice, they set out to test the waters during the final two races of the IHRA season. The hopes were to get a head start on a possible full run at the championship in 2008. Driver Laurie Cannister, along with her husband Dale Cannister as tuner, joined crew chief Mike Couch and other members already in place on the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce AFC team.
The proof was in the “sauce” that this newly merged group meant business. During their first outing, the team won the event at Budds Creek and qualified #1 at their second event during the World Finals at Rockingham Dragway.
Now that’s exactly the kind of fun Kevin and Wendy were looking for and immediately began to make plans for a full season charge in 2008.
“With the win during our first outing, we were very happy with our new team,” exclaimed Wendy. “We are so excited for the new season to begin and just thrilled to think about this year’s possibilities.”
The Kalbones Grill’n Sauce team had planned to start their 2008 season with the test session in southern Georgia. Due to several unfortunate situations, the trip was called off and no testing will be done for the team prior to the season opener at San Antonio next month.
When asked if this would cause the team any problems, tuner Dale Cannister stressed that he couldn’t be less worried.
“Look at what we were able to put together in two weeks before our win at Budds Creek,” Dale explained. “We didn’t even have a complete car a couple of weeks before our first race last season, let alone any testing. Mike (Couch) and I are confident that we are ready for the first hit at San Antonio.”
“During the off season we didn’t need to make any wholesale changes to our setup. That makes a big difference in whether or not the lack of testing is critical to our team,” Couch added.
Driver Laurie Cannister has been ready. After spending the last several seasons being sidelined without a ride, she can’t wait to give back to her fans who have stuck by her over the years.
“I’m really looking forward to being with all our friends at the track, my fellow competitors and so many of the fans who have just been amazing,” Laurie said. “As many know, although I wasn’t driving, I had been helping out a couple of other IHRA teams for the past few years. It was always to nice to have so many people ask me at each race if I was there to drive and if not when was I coming back. Well now I am, this season is all for them.”
Laurie went on to explain how although every IHRA event has its own flavor and she’s anxious to compete at every one of them, some venues are just extra special to her.
“Racing in Canada is just the best. To say I’m looking forward to taking the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce car to Edmonton, Grand Bend and Toronto would be an understatement,” she said. “I haven’t always had the kind of luck I would like to up north, but the racing atmosphere is just different and it’s all because of the Canadian fans. I’ve never been down the track at Edmonton, so that will be another exciting race to look forward to this year.”
The IHRA Alcohol Funny Car class has been building quite the momentum over the last several years. The addition of a full season run for the Kalbones Grill’n Sauce team should prove to spice it up even more.
Team owner Kevin Sims lights up as he describes his vision for a blast at the championship.” We’ve run IHRA prior to working with Laurie and Dale, but this team just gives off a totally different vibe than anything we’ve assembled before. We have a new team, a new look for Kalbones Racing and best of all a new attitude. What more could I ask for? We’re going to give the fans a great show and there’s no doubt in my mind kick ass while we’re doing it.”
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