The Canadian Warriors

In 2005, Kon Rodz Racing Team Owner Spiro Kontos was involved in a tragic car accident leaving him bed ridden for two-years. While recuperating, Kontos discovered a new hobby, classic car collection via E-bay auctions. His initial investment has grown into the two-car highly competitive, multi-talented Top Alcohol Funny Car team he owns today.

The team competes in the highly competitive NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car division. They race in two countries, 4 geographic regions and produce quality results on and off the track. The Kontos Family is known through out the drag racing community as a spirited bunch, often attracting multitudes of new racing fans to their professional pit area. They truly are international ambassadors for the sport of drag racing.

Team Achievements

Best Appearing Crew 2008 – Martin Michigan IHRA
Best Appearing Crew 2009 – Bowling Green Kentucky
Best Appearing Car 2009 – Concord North Carolina
Jason McKnight (Driver) – Career Best ET 5.701 / Career Best MPH: 256.11

Driver Information

Jason McKnight

TAFC Driver Jason McKnight

A competitive soul who began working with legendary Canadian Drag Racer Al Billes nearly two decades ago, McKnight joins the Kon Rodz team as the driver of our first of two professional Top Alcohol Funny Cars. In his first season behind the wheel of our teams Alcohol Funny Car, McKnight impressed the fans and media by finishing in the top 15 in the IHRA World point standings. His matriculation into becoming a consistent and solid driver greatly accelerated after 2008 IHRA World Champion Laurie Cannister joined our team as a driving consultant. McKnight is a skilled mechanic who also provides tuning assistance with Cannister’s husband, our crew chief Dale. He is an accomplished public speaker and provides a positive attitude for our team to follow.

Cassie Simonton

22-year old Cassandra Simonton., a native Minnesotan, has been dominating the quarter-mile drag strips of NHRA Division 5 since her humble beginnings as a Junior Dragster driver at the tender age of 8. Over the past six-years, Simonton has been driving in NHRA and IHRA’s exclusive Top Dragster division. She was an instant success. 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. A college graduate from The University of Northwestern Ohio with a degree in High Performance Technologies, Simonton is also a skilled mechanic.

View a special inside video about Cassie from the University of Northwestern Ohio

View Cassie’s Website