Racing is the only life Krista Baldwin has ever known.

Her grandfather is the “Golden Greek” Chris Karamesines, the ageless driver who was named No. 30 on NHRA’s 50 Greatest Drivers list as part of NHRA’s 50th Anniversary celebration in 2001.

Bobby Baldwin, Krista’s late father, also competed in Top Fuel before passing away in 2001 from a brain aneurysm at the age of 47.

Krista, 22, took the next step in her drag racing career by getting her A-Fuel license Wednesday during the Indy test at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Krista was driving the dragster owned by Anthony Dicero.

“The licensing called for one moderate and two full pulls,” said Krista, who is from Upland, Calif. “I did one 60-foot and then two full pulls and I made it within three runs. This is so surreal because I’ve been dreaming about this day for years. To actually be in the staging lanes and getting strapped in and having all of the other drivers help me out and give some advice was surreal. I’ve always watched all my heroes out on the track and now my heroes are watching me out on the track.”

Dicero said during her two full laps she clocked 5.48 seconds at 252 mph and a 5.52 at 262 mph.

“All of drag racing is a huge family so I’ve grown up with all these people – crew chiefs and crew members and all different people, so being the granddaughter of such a prestigious character within the drag racing community is an honor,” Baldwin said. “I’m so used to standing on the starting line watching him (Karamesines) go down the track, but (Wednesday) the roles changed and he watched me go down the track, and that was just a phenomenal feeling. He actually signed my license.”

Baldwin is hopeful the licensing is a stepping stone to driving a Top Fuel dragster one day like her grandfather.

“I would love to jump into Top Fuel,” Baldwin said. “That’s my ultimate dream. That’s the dream I’ve had since I was a little girl. So, I decided to come out for my alcohol license. Anthony and I met earlier this year in Charlotte and we really hit it off and he said why don’t you come drive my car and I said sure. We might go out and do one more test session later in the year and we will see what happens next year. It really depends on sponsorship.”

Baldwin acknowledged she not only wants to compete in Top Fuel because of her grandfather, but also so she can continue to carry the banner for her late father who started racing in Top Fuel in the late 1980s.

“Driving is so important to me because I feel like I’m living his dream,” Krista said about her father. “I want to continue the Baldwin legacy and I know he’s sitting up there looking down on me and it is an awesome feeling living out both of our dreams.”

Presently Krista is driving a Nostalgia Eliminator 1 front-engine dragster that has a 7.60-second index. The dragster is owned by Rick MacDonald.

“We go to select events with the dragster, and I will be running the California Hot Rod Reunion (Oct. 23-25 in Bakersfield),” Baldwin said. “I ran in the California Hot Rod Reunion last year and I posted my best ET up to that point in that car at 7.89 seconds.”

When Baldwin isn’t driving she attends Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Baldiwn, a senior, is majoring in public relations and is scheduled to graduate in December. She also is the director of social media for CompetitionPlus.com.

“As of right now my driving duties are definitely a hobby and I love doing it,” Baldwin said. “I also love doing the PR side of drag racing as well. I love promoting the sport because I’ve been around it my whole life.”
 

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