Friday April 4, 2008 - San Antonio, TX – The first round of qualifying is in the books for the brand new IHRA Nitro Jam Season. The Kalbones Grill’n Sauce Alcohol Funny Car entry wheeled by returning favorite Laurie Cannister found its way right to the top of the pack. The Kalbones’ team set the pace grabbing the number one spot during the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals in a class that is expected to be extra competitive in 2008.

Success for tuner/co-crew chief Dale Cannister wasn’t due to an over abundance of past computer data. It was just downright talent.

Although Dale has been involved with the Alcohol Funny Car class for numerous years, the combination that the Kalbones’ team utilizes is a little different than what he has been so accustomed to.

“I wasn’t quite sure what the car would want with a different weather scenario than what we have run the car in the few times I have worked with this type of set-up,” Dale explained. “The weather made quite a turn during the day and thank heavens we lost a lot of the humidity that we started the day with. That made a big difference.”

“It’s not that we don’t have a tune-up for running in the heavier air, but we would rather not run in pea soup,” he added.

Tomorrow’s IHRA action in San Antonio will find the professional classes making two more shots at the 1/8 mile national event. While making a good run during either of the evening passes on Friday or Saturday is usually important for qualifying position, it’s the Saturday afternoon pass that has conditions similar to what the teams find on race day.

As team owner Kevin Sims celebrated his birthday Friday evening enjoying the team’s number one spot, he noted that the team had only started with the “Mild” Kalbones Grill’n Sauce tune-up to the car....and “just wait until they move up to Spicy.”

For more on Kalbones Grill’n Sauce – Kalbones Grill'n Sauce - It's not Jus For Yer Butts!

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Special Thanks To – www.flatoutgaskets.com