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By Wayne Ware

Nicole Lyons

Nicole Lyons has been racing cars most of her life and is one of the few African-American women to race on the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Circuit. Besides racing cars, Lyons also owns and operates her own muscle car restoration shop (Cole Muscle Cars).

Nicole will be one of the first students at Dale Brinsfield's Drag Racing School (DBDRS) at Rockingham Dragway-Rockingham, NC on March 13-15, 2006. Dale Brinsfield was formerly an instructor with Roy Hill’s Driving School. Hopefully she will achieve her Pro Stock license in the Jerry Bickel built Chevy Cavalier powered by a Fulton Race Engine that the school has recently acquired. Attending DBDRS will provide the underlying know how and ability for Nicole to achieve one of her dreams, that of becoming a pro stock driver. This will be accomplished with personal one-on-one analysis and instruction by Dale Brinsfield himself. Lyons will be bringing with her the film crew from the soon to air "DNA of Racing" Reality TV Show. The show will debut on one of four major networks currently competing for the exciting 13 episode series.

(3-15-06) Nicole Lyons In The DBDRS Pro Stock Chevy Cavalier

Nicole Lyons was born to become a NHRA drag racer. Her father, famed Los Angeles street racer Jack Davis, took her down the 1/4 mile track in her baby seat at the tender age of 2. At the end of the 11 second pass, she screamed with joy and said, "Daddy, let's go again!" From that point on Nicole was in love with drag racing and attended drag racing events with her parents almost every weekend.

Her father was always her coach. He started her off with a Super Street race car demanding that she obtain all knowledge of the car from suspension to the engine. She learned quickly and now drives a Super Comp/Super Gas and Super Street '67 Firebird with a big block 540 Merlin II with 900 horsepower. Nicole says she owes everything to her father who left her 13 rare muscle cars and a company. She and her husband, Damion, run Cole Muscle Cars where they restore muscle cars and build complete race/high performance engines.

Lyons In Her 1967 Firebird

Not only can this young woman drive like there is no tomorrow but she built her own engine. It is a 565 Dart Big M with 1,100 horsepower. Chevy Rumble magazine found out about it, and they think it is the highest horsepower single carbureted engine they have ever seen. Check out the article in Chevy Rumble’s June or July issue.

In February, 2005 her father passed away with no warning and Nicole lost her mentor and best friend. Faced with tough decisions, she decided to proceed along the path that she and her father had envisioned for her – pursuing a Pro Stock racing career. Well, let's just say this young power house has a “no stop” attitude. One week after her fathers' funeral she attended her season opener of the NHRA Lucas Oil Series Division 7 race in Phoenix, AZ where she beat the racer ranked #3 and that really opened the eyes of the entire Division. “I always feel like now, when I’m in the car I can say okay dad I need the car to do this and that and it always happens, I have my own guardian angel with me”. Nicole was seen at the Lucas Oil Division 7 events racing in 2 brackets, Super Gas and Super Street, since her race car can go 9.50's with no problem.

Nicole runs her company while she races at all the NHRA Lucas Oil Division 7 events. This caught the eye of the head of GM drag racing who thinks you will soon see Nicole in the Pro Stock division, which she will one day rule.

Damion & Nicole Lyons

Goals: Nicole has major goals within the NHRA. She aspires to win and obtain Wally's. Nicole already has made major moves in regards to starting a Pro Stock team and if all goes right you just might be hearing her name in Pro Stock real soon. She will not let anything stop her from staging next to the pro's in Pro Stock, cutting a light on them and hitting all her shift points that will launch her into victory.
Another one of Nicole and her husband’s goals for the future is to start a school for inner city kids and minorities who have an interest in racing. “Many people don’t even know where to begin; they hear about schools and don’t even think that they could one day race.” Nicole hopes to someday bring that to reality for them.

Personal: Nicole is married to Damion Lyons and lives in the San Fernando Valley. She enjoys several other things besides racing, like karate where she holds a black belt. Writing poetry is something she does on a regular basis and has published poems.

Special Thanks To: Special Thanks to my family, close friends & fans.

Nicole Lyons & Greg Anderson 3 time NHRA PowerAde Pro Stock World Champion!!!