NASCAR’s biggest star wins pole for Nationwide race
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| Danica Patrick, NASCAR star |
| Getty Images |
NASCAR's biggest star, Danica Patrick won the pole Friday for the season-opening Nationwide Series race at Daytona.
Patrick became the first woman to secure the top qualifying spot in NASCAR's second-tier series since Shawna Robinson at Atlanta on March 12, 1994, and with it gave NASCAR the big publicity they were looking for. She is a star and perhaps NASCAR's best driver now. Ticket sales and merchandise sales will skyrocket.
The former IndyCar star turned a fast lap of 49.250 seconds around the high-banked speedway, averaging 182.741 mph.
"I'm just happy I could turn the wheel, push the pedal down and start on the pole. It's great to be in this position," Patrick said.
Trevor Bayne qualified second, followed by Elliott Sadler, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Austin Dillon.
Patrick is entering her first full-time season in the Nationwide Series, driving for JR Motorsports and team owner Earnhardt. She also is making her Sprint Cup debut Sunday in the Daytona 500.
Former open-wheel driver Sam Hornish Jr. qualified sixth, just ahead of defending Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart.
Lineup
|
POS |
CAR | DRIVER | MAKE | SPONSOR | SPEED | TIME | BEHIND |
| 1 | 7 | Danica Patrick | Chevrolet | GoDaddy.com | 182.741 | 49.250 | Leader |
| 2 | 60 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing 25th Anniversary | 182.715 | 49.257 | -0.007 |
| 3 | 2 | Elliott Sadler | Chevrolet | OneMain Financial | 182.671 | 49.269 | -0.019 |
| 4 | 5 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | TaxSlayer.com | 182.593 | 49.290 | -0.040 |
| 5 | 3 | Austin Dillon* | Chevrolet | AdvoCare | 182.411 | 49.339 | -0.089 |
| 6 | 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Dodge | Alliance Truck Parts | 182.308 | 49.367 | -0.117 |
| 7 | 33 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Oreo / Ritz | 182.249 | 49.383 | -0.133 |
| 8 | 88 | Cole Whitt* | Chevrolet | Hellmann's | 182.109 | 49.421 | -0.171 |
| 9 | 22 | Brad Keselowski | Dodge | Discount Tire | 182.094 | 49.425 | -0.175 |
| 10 | 6 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | Kellogg's Pop-Tarts | 181.829 | 49.497 | -0.247 |
| 11 | 38 | Kasey Kahne | Chevrolet | Great Clips | 181.635 | 49.550 | -0.300 |
| 12 | 31 | Justin Allgaier | Chevrolet | Brandt | 181.495 | 49.588 | -0.338 |
| 13 | 44 | Mike Bliss | Toyota | TriStar Motorsports | 181.430 | 49.606 | -0.356 |
| 14 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chevrolet | HendrickCars.com | 181.327 | 49.634 | -0.384 |
| 15 | 30 | James Buescher | Chevrolet | Fraternal Order of Eagles | 181.199 | 49.669 | -0.419 |
| 16 | 43 | Michael Annett | Ford | Pilot Flying J | 181.057 | 49.708 | -0.458 |
| 17 | 18 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Z-Line Designs | 180.966 | 49.733 | -0.483 |
| 18 | 136 | Ryan Truex | Chevrolet | Grime Boss | 180.930 | 49.743 | -0.493 |
| 19 | 11 | Brian Scott | Toyota | Dollar General | 180.886 | 49.755 | -0.505 |
| 20 | 14 | Eric McClure | Toyota | Hefty / Reynolds Wrap | 180.737 | 49.796 | -0.546 |
| 21 | 70 | Johanna Long* | Chevrolet | Foretravel Motorcoach | 180.611 | 49.831 | -0.581 |
| 22 | 20 | Joey Logano | Toyota | GameStop | 180.578 | 49.840 | -0.590 |
| 23 | 27 | David Ragan | Ford | CertainTeed / Mercury | 180.332 | 49.908 | -0.658 |
| 24 | 54 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Monster Energy | 179.917 | 50.023 | -0.773 |
| 25 | 19 | Tayler Malsam | Toyota | G-Oil | 179.655 | 50.096 | -0.846 |
| 26 | 09 | Kenny Wallace | Toyota | Family Farmers | 179.594 | 50.113 | -0.863 |
| 27 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | Toyota | DAB Constructors | 179.251 | 50.209 | -0.959 |
| 28 | 01 | Mike Wallace | Chevrolet | G&K Services | 179.072 | 50.259 | -1.009 |
| 29 | 15 | Timmy Hill | Ford | Poynt.com | 178.816 | 50.331 | -1.081 |
| 30 | 97 | Johnny Sauter | Toyota | AMFMEnergy.com / Pellet & Wood Stoves | 178.664 | 50.374 | -1.124 |
| 31 | 41 | Blake Koch | Ford | Rise Up and Register | 178.501 | 50.420 | -1.170 |
| 32 | 108 | Casey Roderick | Ford | Randy Hill Racing | 178.105 | 50.532 | -1.282 |
| 33 | 124 | Benny Gordon | Toyota | Kentucky Antler Company / VFI | 178.080 | 50.539 | -1.289 |
| 34 | 23 | Robert Richardson Jr. | Chevrolet | North Texas Pipe | 178.010 | 50.559 | -1.309 |
| 35 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Chevrolet | GoodInfo.com | 177.809 | 50.616 | -1.366 |
| 36 | 39 | Joey Gase* | Ford | Go Green Racing / JoeyGase.com | 177.641 | 50.664 | -1.414 |
| 37 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Chevrolet | Curry Roofing | 177.235 | 50.780 | -1.530 |
| 38 | 40 | Josh Wise | Chevrolet | Curtis Key Plumbing | 177.190 | 50.793 | -1.543 |
| 39 | 73 | Derrike Cope | Chevrolet | Tito's Handmade Vodka | 177.103 | 50.818 | -1.568 |
| 40 | 28 | J.J. Yeley | Chevrolet | Robinson-Blakeney Racing | 177.099 | 50.819 | -1.569 |
| 41 | 10 | Jeff Green | Toyota | TriStar Motorsports | 176.981 | 50.853 | -1.603 |
| 42 | 42 | Erik Darnell | Chevrolet | Curtis Key Plumbing | 176.967 | 50.857 | -1.607 |
| 43 | 50 | T.J. Bell | Ford | Eastbound & Down | 176.932 | 50.867 | -1.617 |
| 44 | 81 | Jason Bowles* | Dodge | PledgeToVote.com | 176.849 | 50.891 | -1.641 |
| 45 | 4 | Danny Efland | Chevrolet | Danny Efland Racing | 176.415 | 51.016 | -1.766 |
| 46 | 47 | Scott Speed | Chevrolet | Curtis Key Plumbing | 176.208 | 51.076 | -1.826 |
| 47 | 174 | Mike Harmon | Chevrolet | American Fallen Heroes | 175.898 | 51.166 | -1.916 |
| 48 | 52 | Reed Sorenson | Chevrolet | Means Racing | 175.486 | 51.286 | -2.036 |
| 49 | 46 | Chase Miller | Chevrolet | Curtis Key Plumbing | 175.002 | 51.428 | -2.178 |
| 50 | 176 | Donnie Neuenberger | Ford | Eagle Convenience Stores | 173.742 | 51.801 | -2.551 |