Cheri and Kenny Bumbera are parents and business owners with deep ties to Katy and Houston. If their name sounds familiar, it’s with good reason. They operate Bumbera’s Performance Associates, one of the fastest growing companies in the Houston area. They are also one of the most interesting Christian families around, with impressive racing credentials and plans to shoot a pilot for a TV reality show.
Auto and RV repair along with all components of high performance racing keep this family busy and on track – literally! “We do many things at Bumbera’s but the bottom line is this: No matter what you drive – if it has at least 4 wheels we can service it, restore it, repair it, make it pretty, and make it go fast!” promises Kenny, a renowned race car driver and winner of the 2006 Crew Chief of the Year Award.
“We live in Sealy and commute to work and school,” says Cheri. “Our 11-year-old, Boyd, and 17-year-old, Kendall, attend Faith West in Katy. Our shop is located on Highway 6, where we work with our oldest daughter, 22-year-old Kristin. You can imagine what our mornings are like!” she laughs. Cheri used to race, and she and Kenny have passed down the love of fast cars and performance racing to their children. Boyd, Kendall, and Kristin all race, as well.
Faith is the glue that holds the family together. The company, started in 1992, has received awards for exhibiting “Outstanding Christian Character” in their day-to-day business practices. In the first two years of business, Bumbera’s grew to 23 service bays and added an RV repair facility on the premises, becoming West Houston’s factory authorized RV repair facility for many top manufacturers. “Whether you have a pop-up camper or a luxury bus, we have years of experience to get the job done right,” says Kenny.
What Christ does for broken people, Bumbera’s does for broken cars. “Vehicles come to us in any condition and leave happy,” says Cheri. “We have a third generation of loyal customers, which is a blessing to our family and business.” Honesty and hard work have resulted in a high level of customer satisfaction. “We thank our customers for our success and for making our jobs an adventure each and every day.” Bumbera’s can work with any make or model, foreign or domestic, and do belts, hoses, batteries, air-conditioning, heating, engines, transmissions, brakes, shocks, alignments, alternators, and starters.
But “High Performance” is the adrenaline of the business. “We are a one-stop race shop providing brand new and previously-owned race-ready drag cars – classics and hot rods – plus stock cars, and road course race cars,” says Kenny. “Complete turn-key services in our race shop include back halves, interior fabrication, roll cages, chassis set-ups, plumbing & wiring, hang fiberglass & metal bodies, custom exhaust and custom lines and hoses. “We specialize in building and improving drag cars, stock cars, street rods, haulers, show cars and that restoration job that’s in your garage,” says Kenny. “There’s not much we haven’t seen before. We’ve re-built cars out of boxes and out of nothing.” The Bumbera’s sell racing fuel as well as racing tires by Good Year, Mickey Thompson and Hoosier. All carburetor rebuilds are personally performed by Kenny, himself.
The professional race team of Bumbera’s Performance has years of experience in NASCAR, ASA, USRA, SCCA and more. The team has succeeded on oval tracks, super-speedways and road courses throughout the United States. Kenny, the Crew Chief, currently drives super late models in various NASCAR, ASA and other divisions as time permits. Leading up to 2009 the Bumbera team has helped various drivers earn 6 Rookie of the Year Awards, numerous Track Championships wins, Pole Positions, Top 5 Finishes, 2 Most Improved Driver Awards, 3 Fan Favorite Awards and many others including Best Appearing Race Cars. “As exciting as racing is, it can also be dangerous,” says Cheri. “Our family members always prays before races – not so much for a win, but for the safety of all the drivers.” Track Chaplains are available to emotionally and spiritually support drivers and crews.
The Bumbera racing legacy lives on through the careers of the Bumbera children. “Kristin has had 16 Wins, 52 Top 5’s, 94 Top 10’s, 2 Rookie of the Year Titles, and ‘08 Nascar Drive for Diversity Driver of the Year,” says Cheri. “You can check out her statistics at www.KristinBumbera.com.” Obviously Cheri and Kenny have done a tremendous parenting job, because Kristin just recently took a moral stand and would not compromise her principles. “Kristin was asked to pose in a way that did not reflect her Christian values. When she refused, she lost her racing sponsorship,” says Cheri. “We are so proud that she, as a young 22-year-old woman, did the right thing, as painful as the consequences have been. It would have been so easy to say ‘yes’ and cave in to pressure. But Kristin only poses in her racing suit, just like any other driver.”
God has a way of turning lemons into lemonade. “Kristin has been asked to speak at youth groups, annual conferences, and church rallies. As her popularity spreads – not just as a race car driver, but as a Christian motivational speaker – we see other opportunities opening up. For instance, Kristin will be the endorsing celebrity for Epilady Speed (a hair removal product). She has her own Epilady Speed line being launched this year.” And the Bumbera’s are also hopeful that other sponsors will step forward to support Kristin on the track. “We need to raise $800,000 so that Kristin can race this season,” says Cheri. Individuals are sending in checks, and businesses are welcome to support Kristin, as well. “Through a grassroots effort of many fans and supporters, we hope to see Kristin chasing her dream on the track once again.” In the meantime, Kristin is available for speaking engagements all over the nation.
17-year-old Faith West high school student Kendall Bumbera is following in her parents’ and big sister’s footsteps. She recently won the 2009 Rookie of the Year in the Texas Super Racing Series Late Models. She was also Rookie of the Year in 2007 and 2008, earned 1 Top 5, 14 Top 10’s, and 1 Hard Charger Award. You can check out more of her achievements at www.KendallBumbera.com.
Boyd Bumbera is the youngest sibling and already, at 11, has 6 wins, 9 Top 5’s, and 17 Top 10’s.
For more details, some incredible racing photos, and a peek behind-the-scenes, check out the Bumbera Family and business atwww.bumberas.com. They exemplify the values that Christians share, and walk the walk on and off the track.
Contact information:
Bumbera’s Performance Associates
630 Highway 6 South
Houston, Texas 77079
281-493-9300 • kenny@bumberas.com
Contact information:
Karen Mones, Program Director – Inner Loop and Cypress Camp locations
Stacy Agee, Program Director – Sugarland, Katy and Westchase
Phone: (713) 858-4397
Email: houstonareabootcamp@yahoo.com
Website: www.houstonareabootcamp.com
