Krista Baldwin has been involved in nitro drag racing her entire life. One of the biggest lessons she learned is the value of having a proven race car that becomes one with the driver.
Baldwin has confirmed she will return to the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series for at least four races, starting at the upcoming NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA. She will also do so with a new to her, and proven Top Fuel dragster previously campaigned by Pat Dakin.
The third-generation drag racer was clearly born with the nitro drag racing gene.
“Top fuel runs deep in my veins, deep in my family, three generations at this and I know I needed to make the next step,” Baldwin said. “I knew that I had to become a consistent 3.7 second car to be out here to actually be competitive, not just a spectator or participant actually.”
The car comes with proven runs laid down by both Dakin and Spencer Massey.
“Nothing is changing except for the driver and the owner,” Baldwin explained. “I’m the only part that’s changed in this operation. So we’re going to continue with Scott Graham as the crew chief, Dan Minick as the car chief. And we’re going to see how fast this cheetah can go.”
Baldwin has also planned to race Phoenix, Las Vegas and her family’s hometown race at Chicago. The likeable Top Fuel driver who has become a fan favorite because of her bubbly personality, lives in Indianapolis and prefers the western races.
“Sometimes it seems the intelligence is gone from the team owner in me,” Baldwin admitted. “But I have wonderful partners out West. McLeod Racing, Mainline Sales, Strange Engineering, and so they are bringing me out west. And that’s going to be the cool part: I get to go to my home track, and my first run is Friday night. It’s going to be the first time I’ve been in that car and hopefully we can rip it to a 3.70-something.”
Baldwin’s heart pushes her towards a dream of racing full-time, but her brain lets her know a limited schedule works just fine for now.
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“Obviously, the dream is to go out there and race for this NHRA Mission Foods Championship,” Baldwin said. “But as of right now, I’m having a very good time learning how to be a Top Fuel team owner, learning how to be a better driver, learning just putting my nose to the ground and hunting for that sponsorship and hustling and working with a great group of guys. The dream is coming true even though it’s part-time.”
Even just having the designation like “Super Part-timer” first made famous by TJ Zizzo will be sufficient until the time comes.
“I know that I’m going to roll up to Pomona, Phoenix, and Vegas, and none of these guys out here know what’s going to happen because they know that this car is a proven combination between Pat Dakin and Spencer Massey,” Baldwin said. “They had a wonderful combination, and I just can’t wait to put myself in that equation. And believe me, the talk around town has been a couple of months, and I’ve been trying to formulate this. I just hope that my passion continues to fuel my way into the driver’s seat.
