Racer Profile: Joanne Nicolson

Racing Toward Her Future

Joanne Nicolson, known as Jo Jo, is a rising star in the Australian drag racing scene. She began her journey into motorsport in 2024, but her connection to racing started much earlier. Immersed in the world of motorsport through her partner and his friends, Jo became a familiar presence at the track long before she ever took the wheel herself.  Her transition into the sport came when she retired from horse riding, deciding it was time for a new challenge. Little did she know that this leap into the unknown would turn into a passionate pursuit that she would embrace wholeheartedly.

“When I first started, I had never done a burnout in my life,” Jo recalls with a laugh. “It was a completely new experience, and I loved every second of it.” Her first pass at Warwick Dragway on September 14, 2024, marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life—one that would see her gain confidence, hone her skills, and build a community around her.

Drag racing is not just about the competition for Jo—it’s the excitement, the community, and the friendships that keep her coming back. “I love the feeling of bettering myself with every pass,” she explains. “Every time I achieve a new personal best, whether it’s a better reaction time or a faster quarter-mile time, I know I’m improving. But what makes it really special is knowing that my friends and family are proud of me.”

In a sport known for its fierce competition and technical demands, Jo’s journey has been marked by both rapid development and setbacks. She has worked hard to refine her skills on the track, focusing not only on building speed but also on perfecting her reaction times, an area crucial to success in drag racing. “My best reaction time so far is 0.045 seconds,” she notes, showing just how seriously she takes every part of the sport. Her determination to improve has led her to set an ambitious goal: “2026, I want to run in the 8-second range in the quarter-mile.”

Beyond the racing side, Jo is passionate about bringing more women into the sport. “Drag racing is a fantastic sport for women of all ages,” she says. “It doesn’t matter if you’re young or a bit older—if you’ve got the dedication, you can do it. I want to help encourage other women to give it a go and not be afraid to step into a male-dominated space.”

Jo’s enthusiasm for drag racing is contagious, and she wants to use her platform to help grow the sport and bring crowds back to the track. She believes that with more spectators, the sport can become more accessible for competitors, reducing the financial burden many face. “The decrease in crowds has really impacted the sport in a negative way,” she explains. “If we can build up the audience, it will help everyone—competitors and venues alike.”

Her ambitions don’t stop at the 8-second mark. In the future, Jo hopes to secure sponsorship to help elevate her career to the next level. Whether driving her own car or having the opportunity to race for a team, her dream is to make it to semi-professional racing. Her ultimate goal is not just to compete but to win a track championship.

While Jo is just starting her journey, her dedication and hard work have already shown significant results. She continues to improve every race and sets her sights on future achievements. Her story is one of passion, persistence, and the support of a community that celebrates and nurtures her growth.

“None of my racing would be possible without my family, friends, and sponsors,” Jo reflects. “They have supported me every step of the way, and I couldn’t have done it without them.”