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Nicole Addison: Defying the Odds
Written by: David Harris   
11/11/2006
Charlotte, NC
 
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Nicole Addison, rear tire changer on the No. 10 Power Stroke Diesel by International race team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, gets a lot of attention for being the first female over the wall crew member in NASCAR's top three divisions. Although her chosen profession and accomplishments set her apart from most women, for Nicole, reaching this level in the racing profession has even deeper meaning because of what she went through to get here.

Born in Tucson, Ariz., Addison experienced a childhood most parents hope and pray against. When she was six years old, Addison was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer and was given just five years to live. Unable to take the drugs prescribed to her, Addison and her family could only wait for fate to step in.

"I don't remember much about it," Addison says now. "I remember getting sick when I took the medicine. Over time I just seemed to get better, not worse, and one day the cancer was gone."

The Addison's called her recovery a miracle and felt she was meant to do something very special with her life.

Growing up, she spent much of her free time at the local race track with her father learning all about racing. She even tried her hand at driving her dad's modified in the Wranglers on Wheels division, but being on the crew, working on the car and
using her hands, was Addison's first love.

"Driving just wasn't for me," Addison said. "I was more interested in the mechanical side of things. I'm not the typical girly-girl. I like to get dirty and work on the car itself. It became my passion in high school and I just wanted to be around anything to do with racing. I figured I would need more experience to drive, but I could learn everything I needed to know to work on the car."

After logging hundreds of hours at Tucson Raceway Park, it was a trip to Phoenix International Raceway that changed her life. Having just graduated from high school, the all important, 'what should I do with my life?' question plagued Addison. She was drawn to racing but thought going to college would be the smart decision.

"I decided to go to Pima Community College in Tucson for a couple years and got my associates degree in general studies. I knew racing was what I wanted to do, but I also wanted to have something to fall back on."

Traveling to Phoenix with her dad for a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race, she finally got brave enough to ask someone how she should pursue her dream. A crew member on a Cup team told Addison if she really wanted to make it in the big leagues of racing, she would need to attend a pit school called '5 off 5 on,' in Mooresville, N.C.
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