RPW Column: Nicole Ackerly Gearing Up For First Full Season At Accord Speedway
RPW Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – BREWSTER, NY – When the orange Camaro with the a 00 number on it’s door took to the track at Accord Speedway last year, it brought back memories of another orange race car with a 00 number from back in the day.
This time, it was Nicole Ackerly getting her first laps at the track last year and she is planning a full season in the Street Stocks at Accord in 2020.
“I’m planning on running the full season, I may miss a couple of events with other commitments, but I will be there for as many events as I can,” she said.
Nicole is the daughter of Ray Ackerly, who was a driver at OCFS and took home 5 Sportsman wins at the wheel of his car numbered 00Jr. Nicole’s car is very similar in appearance to a Street Stock that her father drove at OCFS in the late 80’s. And like it works with many families, Nicole developed her desire to race at a young age.
“I’m actually the 3rd generation of my family to race, my grandfather raced as well as my dad,” she said. “I started by racing go karts back in 2000 and enjoyed it so much and it’s great that I’ve gotten to this level.”
Nicole is very grateful to all the people who help her to race her car.
“It’s my Dad and my boyfriend Jose who help me out at the track, I really rely on them so much,” Nicole said. “I have really gotten some great help from Bob Sleight, Jay Smalley and some good things I’ve picked up on from the Street Stock Help Source. And I want to thank Gary and Donna Palmer, the staff at Accord, the photographers. the people who cover our sport and the fans. They make it all work for us to race.”
Sponsors on the Miss 00 are Putnam Energy, Magpro Services LLC, Fast Lane Oil Change and Car Wash, MJM Autoworks, Dawg Gone Good, TJ Motorsports and Welsh Signs.
When her sharp looking Camaro takes to the track at Accord Speedway in 2020, it’s another instance of something that is great to see in the sport, another generation keeping the family history of racing intact. And now, Nicole is keeping the Ackerly family name around the racing scene. Hopefully, she will have a safe and successful season at Accord this year.