For the last month, Krista Baldwin has had a hard time sleeping.

That’s because that’s when she found out she would realize a life-long dream getting to drive an A-Fuel dragster at the Winternationals.

Baldwin will pilot the dragster owned by Anthony Dicero at the Winternationals Feb. 11-14 in Pomona, Calif. Dicero also will serve as Baldwin’s crew chief.

“We run a program called Nitro University and Nitro University allows people to come out and earn an A-Fuel license or you can learn how to work on these cars,” said Baldwin, 22. “We became partners in that field and we are working together and I get to race this weekend. Ever since I found out I was driving I have not got a full night’s sleep. I wake up thinking I’m in the car and I just want to race already. I’m so excited and I’m just waiting for someone to pinch me so I know this isn’t a dream.”

Baldwin’s no stranger to drag racing. 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. He was 47.

Last August, Krista obtained her A-Fuel license in Dicero’s dragster at the Indy test at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Krista was back driving the dragster Feb. 7 when she made three runs at Wild Horse Motorsports Park in Phoenix, Ariz.

Prior to getting her A-Fuel license, Baldwin raced in 10 Nostalgia events, most recently at the California Hot Rod Reunion in October in Bakersfield, Calif.

“Things went pretty good,” Baldwin said about the test session in Phoenix. “We did a couple half-track pulls and we are minding our ps and qs on this car because it is a brand-new car. We got the data we needed and we’re ready to rock this weekend.”

Krista said she did talk with Karamesines after her Phoenix test.

“He will not be in Pomona (at the Winternationals) because he’s preparing his own race car to be in Gainesville (Fla.) (the Gatornationals March 17-20),” Baldwin said. “I definitely called him after my three passes (Feb. 7), and he said to just take my time and just be comfortable in the car. He’s really been on my side through this whole process. He’s been a mentor, of course, and he’s a man of very few words, but his few words mean a lot to me.”

Off the track, Baldwin graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in December, majoring in public relations. Baldwin works full-time at McLeod Racing for owner and fellow racer, nitro Funny Car driver Paul Lee.

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