Auto Racing is a sport where you typically don’t see a lot of African-Americans. Professional Drag Racing is especially notable for this, but not for a lack of trying. While there are dozens of classes, in the top 4 pro classes in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) – Pro Stock Bike, Pro Stock Car, Funny Car, and Top Fuel Dragster – there is only one, while a 2nd is making history in the “lower” divisions.
Nicole Lyons is the first Black female driver to race in NHRA’s top Sportsman classes. Racing since 2005, Lyons has racked up victories in Super Gas and Comp Eliminator classes. The link below is one of many on Nicole Lyons’ life and racing career.
Nicole Lyons feature: LINK
Anton Brown is the first Black driver to race in the Top Fuel class, and the first to win a World Championship. Starting in the Pro Stoke Bike category in 1998, Brown amassed 16 Event Wins from ’99 to 2007, finishing 2nd overall in 2001 and 2006. He then switched to the fastest NHRA class, Top Fuel Eliminator – where the cars go 1000 feet in under 3.90 seconds, at 330+ mph – where he’s won 50 Events in his career, so far. He also won the World Championships in 2012, 2015, and 2016.
NBC Sports link about Anton Brown and his eyes towards the future: LINK
The Nexus 