Royal Purple announced the first recipient for its’ prestigious Outperformer award for 2013 recently. The honor was bestowed upon the Chief Executive Officer and President of Cole Muscle Cars: the multi-talented Nicole Lyons. Royal Purple stepped onboard with Lyons in 2011 when the announcement was made that they had become a sponsor of the Nicole Lyons Racing Top Sportsman team.

The luminary of the second season of the Outperformer Series, Nicoles’ resume is undoubtedly impressive. She is one busy woman as she not only runs Cole Muscle Cars, an engine building and muscle car restoration company, but she is also quite the pilot in both NHRA and NASCAR.

Nicole, the daughter of Jack Davis, learned her trade of engine building under the guidance of her late father. Jack began building cars in the mid 1960’s and his youngster began her training under his guidance at a very young age.  At seven years old she was already working with her father and absorbing his knowledge.

As if owning her own restoration and engine building business wasn’t enough to keep her schedule full, Lyons has made quite a name for herself in the racing world as well. Lyons hasn’t let the male-dominated world of racing intimidate her as she is the first woman to compete in both NHRA and NASCAR in one season. She is also the first African American female to race NHRA Top Sportsman and Competition Eliminator, as well as the ADRL’s Top Sportsman classes.

To add to the resume, Lyons has also been a television personality. In 2011, Nicole was chosen to partake in an automotive reality television series called “Car Warriors”, where she served in the role of the engine specialist. The show aired for ten episodes on the SPEED Channel.

As the first 2013 Royal Purple Outperformer recipient, Nicole Lyons will be a tough act to follow.