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Nicole Lyons is a trailblazing drag racer, engine builder, and businesswoman who became the first African-American woman to compete in NHRA’s Top Sportsman Division—and she’s been making history across multiple racing disciplines ever since.

EARLY YEARS

Some people discover their calling. Nicole Lyons had hers thrust upon her at 250 miles per hour—when she was two years old. Her father, Jack Davis, was a legendary street racer in the Los Angeles area, and he wasn’t about to let a little thing like his daughter’s age keep her off the drag strip. At the tender age of two, Jack strapped her into a race car and sent it screaming down the quarter-mile. Her response? Pure, delighted screaming—and a demand to do it again once the car stopped. That was it. She was hooked.

Growing up with a father who lived and breathed drag racing meant Lyons didn’t just watch from the sidelines. She learned the craft from the ground up, following Jack into the world of engine building and race car mechanics. This wasn’t some casual weekend hobby—she was being trained by one of the best, absorbing everything she could about what made these machines fly.

OTHER INTERESTS

When she’s not tearing down a drag strip or rebuilding an engine, Lyons channels her competitive energy into martial arts. She holds a black belt in Tang Soo Do, a form of karate that incorporates kickboxing, street tactics, and traditional technique. It’s discipline, focus, and controlled aggression—all things that translate beautifully to racing when you’re piloting 4,500 horsepower worth of barely-contained chaos.

EARLY SUCCESS

In 2005, Lyons made her competitive debut in the NHRA Super Street class—and immediately made history as the first African-American woman ever to compete in NHRA Pro Stock. She didn’t ease into the sport; she announced her arrival. From there, she moved into NHRA Top Sportsman, becoming the first and only woman racing in NHRA D7 and D2 Top Sportsman divisions. She also competed in the American Drag Racing League Top Sportsman class, continuing to break barriers in spaces where women—especially Black women—had never been seen before.

By October 2010, she’d earned an invitation to the prestigious Orlando World Street Nationals, a nod to her skill and growing reputation. That same year, she began testing her 1969 Pro Mod Camaro, a beast that delivered phenomenal results with over 3,500 horsepower. Lyons wasn’t just participating—she was competing at the highest levels and proving she belonged there.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2005: First African-American woman to compete in NHRA Pro Stock[1].
• 2005-2010: First African-American woman to race in NHRA Top Sportsman Division (D7 & D2)[2].
• 2010: Invited to compete at the Orlando World Street Nationals[3].
• 2010: Raced a 4,500-horsepower Pro Mod and won several Outlaw Pro Mod drag racing events as the first and only African-American woman in the division[4].
• 2011: Featured on the automotive reality television series “Car Warriors” as engines and mechanics expert[5].
• 2011: Named to Drag Illustrated Magazine’s “10 Hottest Women in Drag Racing”[6].
• 2012-2013: Became a national partner for Girl Scouts of America[7].
• 2013: First Royal Purple Outperformer recipient, recognizing her achievements both on and off the track[8].
• 2013: Began racing in the NASCAR Whelen Series; became the first Black woman to finish a Whelen Series race and qualified in the Top 10 in her fourth-ever NASCAR race[9].

INSPIRATIONS

Jack Davis wasn’t just her father—he was her blueprint. Watching him dominate the Los Angeles street racing scene and later the drag strips gave Lyons a front-row seat to what excellence looked like. She didn’t just inherit his love for racing; she inherited his work ethic, his fearlessness, and his refusal to accept limitations. Following in his footsteps wasn’t about copying him—it was about honoring the foundation he gave her and then building something entirely her own on top of it.

REPUTATION

Lyons isn’t just known for being “the first” at everything she touches—though that’s certainly part of her legacy. She’s respected because she can do it all. As CEO and President of Cole Muscle Cars, an engine building and muscle car restoration company she branded herself, Lyons has proven she’s as capable in the shop as she is behind the wheel. She’s not a driver who needs a crew to make her competitive—she is the crew. She builds the engines that power her victories.

Her reputation extends beyond the track. She’s been featured on NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams during a Black History Month special, sharing her journey as a modern-day pioneer. She’s been active in her community, working with organizations like the Usher New Look Foundation and serving as a Girl Scouts of America national partner. And when Drag Illustrated Magazine put her on their “10 Hottest Women in Drag Racing” list, it wasn’t just about looks—it was about the whole package: talent, grit, business acumen, and star power.

Royal Purple recognized all of this when they named her their first Outperformer in 2013, a title given to individuals who exceed expectations both in their sport and in their contributions to the community. It wasn’t just a sponsorship move—it was an acknowledgment that Lyons represents something bigger than racing.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Based on available information, specific future goals beyond 2025 have not been publicly detailed.

REFERENCES

[1] Nicole Lyons: the first black woman in NHRA’s Top Sportsman Division – Andscape
[2] Nicole Lyons! In-Depth with the Nascar and NHRA Driver – MotorTrend
[3] Nicole Lyons’ First African-American Female Race Car Driver – Black Meetings & Tourism
[4] Nicole Lyons Flexes Her Muscle with the Expansion of Cole Muscle Cars Atlanta Division – 24-7 Press Release
[5] Car Warriors (TV series) – Wikipedia
[6] Nicole Lyons: Lady of Drag Racing – Dragzine
[8] Nicole Lyons: First Royal Purple Outperformer Recipient For 2013 – Dragzine
[9] African American Woman Race Car Driver, Nicole Lyons Shares Her Journey with NBC’s Nightly News – Cision
[10] Fast and Furious – Life+Times