Danica Patrick wins pole for Nationwide Series race at Daytona
Reporting from Daytona Beach, Fla. -- One day after a final-lap crash in her Gatorade Duels race, Danica Patrick won the pole position for the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Drive4COPD 300.
Patrick drove the No. 7 Chevrolet to the front of the pack Friday with a qualifying time of 49.250 seconds at Daytona International Speedway. She averaged 182.741 mph during her run.
She becomes the first woman to secure the top spot in a Nationwide Series race since Shawna Robinson at Atlanta on March 12, 1994.
The 29-year-old is running her first full season in the Nationwide Series. Last season, in a limited run, she finished 26th in the series standings.
Joining Patrick in the front row for Saturday’s race is defending Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne, who qualified with a time of 49.257. He averaged 182.715 mph.
“That’s so cool for her to start her season that way,” Bayne said. “They were looking for a boost, and that’s a good kick in the butt.”
Defending series champion Elliott Sadler will start in the second row next to the No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
King wins truck series race
John King survived a crash-marred NextEra Energy Resources 250 and picked up his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win in his eighth start.
King secured the win after a crash forced a caution period just after the white flag waved.
A late caution — the eighth of the race — had prompted a third green-white-checkered finish, which opened the door for King. However, it was King who was part of an 11-truck pileup that knocked out then-leader Johnny Sauter, opening the door for the Tennessee native.
That crash forced NASCAR to red-flag the race for 11 minutes 34 seconds before the final restart.
“I don’t know what to say; it’s a dream come true,” King said .
King’s Red Horse Racing teammate Timothy Peters finished second and Justin Lofton was third.
“It was an action-packed night,” Peters said. “We were fortunate enough to keep our nose clean all night long.”
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