Bobby Gerhart's record sixth victory at Daytona International Speedway was overshadowed by the successful stock car debut of IndyCar star Danica Patrick, who finished sixth yesterday in the crash-filled ARCA race.




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Patrick spent much of the race among the top 10 in her widely anticipated stock car racing debut, but she bumped fenders with Nelson Piquet Jr. and spun out through the infield grass on lap 54, costing her any hopes of a victory. But she passed several cars in the closing laps of the ARCA season opener, and got as high as fifth with three laps left. "It was a lot of fun," Patrick said. "I bumped from the side. I bumped from the front. I got bumped from the back. I learned a lot, and I had so much fun in a race car today. So I can't wait to do it again." Hendrick Motorsports teammates Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. secured the front row for the Daytona 500, with Martin earning his first Daytona 500 pole. The two are are the only drivers in the 43-man field who clinched their positions. Kevin Harvick won the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona Beach for the second consecutive season, blowing past Greg Biffle in the exhibition race.

Source: Sports in Brief: Patrick 6th in NASCAR debut