CANNISTER SWITCHES TO CHEVROLET FUNNY CAR
Although she had seemingly done everything right including winning the Pro Outlaw championship, Laurie Cannister ended last season without a sponsor or a class in which to compete. The IHRA decided to pull the plug on the Pro Outlaw class and Cannister's sponsor, Nicoderm/Nicorette, decided drag racing wasn't where they wanted their marketing dollars. To top it off, after years of running a factory-sponsored Mopar, she couldn't reach an agreement with them, either.

What was left to do but change everything. The driver from Clinton, Pa. will be campaigning a 1999 Camaro Funny Car powered by Keith Black-prepped Chevrolet engines. She did stick with crew chief Jeff Fowler and IHRA, however.

DIAMOND P TO PRODUCE IHRA DRAG RACING 'SOAP OPERA'
Former producer of NHRA's television package, Diamond P Production Group has just been selected to produce television programming and coverage for the 2001 IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series.

Diamond P will produce 12 shows for broadcast in prime-time Sunday nights on The National Network (TNN).

"Diamond P's mission is creating the most entertaining show in drag racing for IHRA," said IHRA president Bill Bader. "Make no mistake; IHRA is in the entertainment business and Diamond P is the company to take IHRA's television show to the next level.

"I think shows like 'Survivor' are popular because they have an ongoing reality-based theme that draws viewers in each week," Bader continued. "We have a 12-week opportunity to create our own drag racing soap opera that captures the IHRA Drag Racing experience. That's our mission."

The Agent can't wait. "Survivor" meets the WWF at the drag strip. Hmmm…

CSI ADDS STARTER TO CONTINGENCY PROGRAM
CSI Performance Products has added a new product to their NHRA and IHRA contingency programs. Winners using the CSI Platinum Pro Series Starter must have a contingency/warranty card along with the correct serial number in place to collect contingency money. CSI already has posted contingency for winners using their billet electric water pumps.

LEE RUNS 6.574/211.89 IN TESTING
Driver Tom Lee took Charlie Taylor's Pro Stock Mustang to a blistering 6.574/211.89 lap during testing at Gainesville Raceway. The team seemed to have it all their way last season, taking the Jerry Haas-built, Jon Kaase-powered car to two national event wins and the Sunoco Pro Stock Showdown crown. The team finished the season second in points and crew chief Cliff Moore was named the IHRA Crew Chief of the Year.

"I really didn't want the 2000 season to end because we were at full stride and didn't want to break our momentum," Lee said. "It has all worked out well because we've had time to refresh and come back with renewed enthusiasm."

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