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Patrick wins pole for Nationwide race

Danica Patrick walks to her car on pit road waiting for her turn to qualify for the NASCAR Nationwide DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 24, 2012. UPI/Martin Fried
1 of 2 | Danica Patrick walks to her car on pit road waiting for her turn to qualify for the NASCAR Nationwide DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 24, 2012. UPI/Martin Fried | License Photo

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Danica Patrick produced her most significant achievement as a NASCAR driver Friday, winning the pole for Saturday's Nationwide Series race.

Patrick will start out front at the Daytona International Speedway after turning in a qualifying lap of 182.741 mph to become the second woman to win a Nationwide Series pole. Shawna Robinson did so eight years ago in Atlanta.

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The qualifying victory came one day after she slammed her car into the wall along the backstretch during the first of two qualifying races for Sunday's Daytona 500.

Patrick will drive in that race, but will start at the back of the field because she will have to drive a backup car.

Patrick moved to NASCAR racing full time this year after spending most of her career in the IRL series. She drove a part-time schedule in NASCAR last year and made her series debut at this track two years ago.

Trevor Bayne, who won the Daytona 500 last year, qualified second for the 300-mile Nationwide race, followed by Elliott Sadler, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Austin Dillon.

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