Kristin Bumbera Profile (with Photo)

[NickHolt]

Bumbera is more than just another up-and-coming “pretty face” in racing

 

By Chuck Licata

 

There’s no question Kristin Bumbera is a “looker.”

 

The 5-foot-10 blonde-haired, blue-eyed native of Houston has attracted a lot of attention in her hometown (Sealy, TX) as well as Blinn Junior College (Bryan, TX), where she is a sophomore.

 

The 19-year-old bombshell doesn’t need a boyfriend with a fast car – she already drives one. And she can drive faster than most boys her age, too.

 

That’s because Kristin Darlene Bumbera is a racecar driver. Oh yah – she’s got 11 years of racing experience, from go-carts to Super Mini-Cups to Late Model Stock Cars, mostly on asphalt circle tracks.

 

But Bumbera is a lot more than just a pretty lady in a driver’s suit.

 

She went undefeated in all of her Super Mini-Cup races when she ran in that series for two years (1997-98). She’s grabbed the checkered flag twice this season in the Pro Late Models series.

 

She finished second in the run for the Pro Late Models series title - the part of the series that races at both Houston Motorsports Park (HMP) and Thunder Hill Raceway (Kyle, TX) - and she finished fourth in the Pro Late Models points standings for that part of the series that runs just at HMP.

 

Bumbera wants to become a Crime Scene Investigator. Like a CSI, Bumbera (literally) knows the “nuts and bolts” of her version of a crime scene – a racetrack and the racing garage.

 

“My dad (Kenny Bumbera) made a point of having me learn all there is to know about putting a race car together,” the 19-year-old revealed about her father, who has driven in the ROMCO Super Late Model series (TX) as well as the ASA and NASCAR Elite Series. “When Dad’s car was out of whack, I began fixing it and he would check my work. If I messed up he’d give me directions on how to fix it. And you know what - I learned to love it! If I didn’t have that experience I wouldn’t know what to do. Dad pushed me to learn how to fix a car if you break it. He also taught me to have respect for my crew, for track owners and car owners and fellow drivers.”

 

She added, “Knowing the setup of a car takes a bit of pressure off of me as a driver. It helps me to be able to communicate with my crew chief (who, this season, is her father), and it helps me feel comfortable working with my crew. They know – and I know – that if I take off the front end of a car, I can repair and/or replace it. That’s actually happened, too. My knowledge also gives me a respect for my equipment.”

 

Bumbera, the daughter of Kenny and Cheri Bumbera, knows the value of sponsors, too. “I’m very thankful to Gary Lidiak at TXI - Maximizer Concrete, whose headquarters are in Dallas, TX. Gary is a customer of my father’s who approached us about sponsorship this past March. We’re very grateful for TXI’s sponsorship; we definitely would not be doing as well as we are this year without them.”

 

Not surprisingly, Kristin mentioned she “chose CSI and forensics science as a college major because I didn’t want a boring job” after college (Bumbera has a current GPA of 3.5). Throughout her childhood, Kristin showed a penchant for a fast-paced life.

 

Bumbera was a fast-pitch softball pitcher (she competed from age 8 through age 16). She graduated high school in just three years (she took two summer school classes and two online courses to get through high school one year early).

 

Her racing career began at age 8 in go-karts before moving on to the Super Mini Cups at ages 11 and 12. She followed her dad in his ROMCO career while she was ages 13-15; she has certainly learned a lot from her father in her current racing pursuits.

 

She’s received help in the racing world from Bobby Hillin, Jr., the Midland (TX) native who still holds the record for being the youngest driver (at age 17) to start a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race (he started a race at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1982 when the series was known as the Winston Cup series). “Bobby’s been a great coach; he watches me and sees what I’m doing then tells me how to improve my driving. It’s been great learning from him.”

 

Bumbera hopes to move up to a regional or national touring series next year – possibly the NASCAR Grand National AutoZone West Series.

 

There’s no doubt any series Bumbera drives will get a lot of attention – not only because of Kristin’s good looks but her driving skills, which Bumbera herself admits “need more improvement to make the big time.” But, that series will also get a sponsor-friendly, car-knowledgeable driver who races with the philosophy that “your competitors should be worried because you’re in the race.”

 

No doubt, Bumbera will be striking fear in fellow competitor’s hearts in the near and distant future.

 

PROFILE: Kristin Bumbera

 

WEB SITE: http://www.bumberas.com/KristinsRacing.htm

 

CURRENTLY: Sophomore at Blinn Junior College, Bryan (TX)

 

FAMILY: Kenny and Cheri Bumbera, sister Kendall (14) and brother Boyd (8)

 

BORN: Oct. 5, 1987 in Houston

 

RESIDES: Sealy (TX)

 

RACE TEAM: Bumbera’s Performance Associates Racing

 

SPONSOR: TXI - Maximizer Concrete (Dallas, Texas)

 

CREW: Father Kenny is crew chief; mother Cheri is her spotter. Team members include

 

“Pockets” (Orwin Roberts), Fred Branch, John & Rene Chisum, Art Clepper (Kristin’s grandfather), Brett Riss (who works on Kristin’s cars at the team’s shop), Greg Fleischer, Matt Smith & Ed Mann (both Smith and Mann drive for the Bumbera Race Team). Also, Branch and John Chisum drive the team’s haulers.

 

 

 

Photo by Jeff Garvin

 

Kristin Bumbera spends time with her father, Kenny, and mother, Cheri, right before her last race of the season Oct. 21 at Houston Motorsports Park.