Danica Qualifies 12th For Daytona ARCA

Danica Patrick was relatively pleased after her qualifying lap for the Daytona ARCA race, a lap which eventually resulted in a 12th-place starting spot.

“They told me what to do, and I mean, it’s pretty straightforward,” she said. "You run around the top, drop down low and keep it on the line. I’m sure it’ll be much harder at most other tracks.

“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. I don’t think it’s going to be easy, but I think it’s going to be fun. I like my car and I think it’s going to run really well in the race.”

Nationwide Series rookie James Buescher won the pole, just ahead of Mikey Kyle.

Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet was seventh and much-maligned Nationwide driver John Wes Townley was ninth.

Patrick was 12th, and other drivers of note included motocross legend Ricky Carmichael (14th) and the IRL’s Milka Duno (41st), who made the field based on a provisional.

There will be six women in the 43-car field on Saturday.