Mohnton, Pa. – Cassie Simonton, the 23-year old rookie driver for Spiro Kontos’ Kon Rodz / Bullydog.com Top Alcohol Funny Car team will gain some valuable experience this weekend during the NHRA Division 1 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Event contested at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa. And for two-car TAFC team owner Kontos, this weekend provides the team with a bit of a break and opportunity to prepare for a very busy upcoming race schedule.

“We have a great group of people who work with the Kon Rodz / Bullydog.com team and when you’re racing two TAFC’s things can get rather stressful,” noted Kontos. “We began the season with a test session with both Jason McKnight and Cassie gaining valuable experience. Jason then competed at the Gatornationals and we debut the two-car team recently at the NHRA Division 3 LODRS event at Indy. We need to give Cassie another chance to gain valuable grade points so she can compete at a NHRA National event, so this weekend’s race at Maple Grove seemed to fit well.”

Simonton has impressed several people with her calm and cool driving style and her competitive spirit during a short time behind the wheel of one of the more difficult cars in drag racing to drive. At the recently completed NHRA Division 3 LODRS event, she qualified in the number 6 position in her Kon Rodz / Bullydog.com “Team Pink” flopper to complete her first official NHRA race day start in the highly competitive TAFC division. The competition will only get tougher from here for the rookie driver from Johnstown, Ohio.

“Cassie might be the new girl on the block, but people are starting to understand she’s got very good driving skills. She is sharp and consistent on the starting line and has a way of man-handling that race car,” Kontos said. “I am very proud of the efforts she has shown so far and believe the best is yet to come for her and our partners at bullydog.com.

Bully Dog Technologies (http://www.bullydog.com) is a proud partner of the two-car Kon Rodz Racing team. Bullydog.com is recognized as a leader in the diesel performance industry, which motivates them to stay abreast of new technology in this industry. With the introduction of electronic components and software to improve performance, they began to research new types of products like intake and exhaust systems to complement their electronic components. Bullydog.com is now able to offer a complete performance package including gasoline products. Customers are encouraged to use the promotional code “KONRODZ” at checkout when ordering their products from the company website.

Simonton will receive two attempts at qualifying for the tough 8-car field at the Division One LODRS Event this weekend beginning on Friday. Eliminations will conclude for the TAFC contingent on Saturday.

To learn more about Cassie Simonton and the Kon Rodz / Bulldog.com Racing team, please visit their website at http://www.konrodzracing.com and their team page at http://www.crxmedia.com.

Racing fans can keep up to date with up to the minute results posted at http://www.dragracecentral.com.

After months of planning, on-hands training and several shake-down runs behind the wheel of the Kon Rodz / Bullydog.com TAFC last season, Simonton recently earned her NHRA TAFC competition license after recording a solid 5.85 second elapsed time at over 200 miles per hour during a test session held in Valdosta, Ga. For the former NHRA Division 5 Top Dragster Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event champion who lives in Lima, Ohio accomplishing this honor is an enormous step in achieving her professional racing goals.

“I have been waiting my whole life to hold that NHRA competition license which say’s NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver, Cassie Simonton,” noted the always up-beat college graduate of The University of Northwestern Ohio who received a bachelor’s degree in high performance technologies. “I can’t thank Spiro enough for the opportunity he has given to me. He has an enormous heart and it is a tremendous honor to be a part of his racing family. Knowing that I get to drive with my team-mate Jason McKnight in our second Kon Rodz Racing / Bullydog.com TAFC this year at a few races is a distinguished honor indeed.”

Simonton has been working with the Kon Rodz team driving instructor and advisor, Laurie Cannister, a two-time IHRA champion in her own right. And for Simonton, the council and teaching which Cannister has given her has been instrumental in learning to drive the wild handling flopper. “Laurie is an amazing driver herself with several race wins and series championships. She knew what type of issues I would have learning to drive this car and has an amazing ability to articulate them to me. I feel so privileged to have learned from her and I know the more runs I make, she will be by my side helping me every step of the way.”

Simonton is scheduled to make her competition debut at the Division 3 LODRS event at historic O‚Reilly Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind. April 23rd-25th. Until then, she will be making thousands of runs down the virtual quarter-mile in her head to prepare for her first side-by-side race.

“I’m very excited for the new season to begin for our two-car team,” noted team owner Spiro Kontos, the owner and operator of Recyco Environmental Inc. and Direct Waste Systems Inc. “Cassie is an amazing driver who has more courage in her little fingers than most people have in their entire bodies. She made some solid runs last season while testing in Charlotte and under the instruction of her teammate Jason McKnight and our driving consultant Laurie Cannister, we plan to give Cassie four-solid days behind the wheel. Jason will also get some seat time. I’m very proud of the work the team has done preparing for this season.”

TAFC Driver Cassie Simonton

TAFC Driver Jason McKnight

Simonton, a native Minnesotan who began as a Junior Dragster driver at the tender age of 8 is eager to complete her licensing requirements. Over the past six-years, Simonton has been driving in NHRA and IHRA’s Top Dragster division. A winner of the 2003 NHRA Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in Brainerd, Minn., Simonton is also an extreme go getter, who does not let her age or gender stop her from accomplishing her goals. She is also a college graduate from The University of Northwestern Ohio with a degree in High Performance Technologies and is a skilled mechanic.

The team also announced Dale and Laurie Cannister will continue to serve as the team’s Crew Chief and Driving Advisor for the 2010 season. The Cannisters bring with them several years of experience in the Top Alcohol Ranks including capturing the 2008 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car World Championship.

For more information about the Kon Rodz Top Alcohol Funny Car team, please visit their website and on our CRX team page.