Dancia Patrick makes history at Daytona

Danica Patrick won the pole Sunday for the Daytona 500, the first woman in history to do so. (Photo: Greg Engle)
Danica Patrick won the pole Sunday for the Daytona 500, the first woman in history to do so. (Photo: Greg Engle)
Danica Patrick won the pole Sunday for the Daytona 500, the first woman in history to do so. (Photo: Greg Engle)

DAYTONA BEACH Fla – Dancia Patrick made history Sunday becoming the first female driver in NASCAR history to win a pole in the Sprint Cup Series. Patrick, campaigning the entire Sprint Cup season for Stewart-Haas Racing broke a track record with a speed of 196.434 early in the session and will lead the field to the green next Sunday in NASCAR’s biggest race the Daytona 500.

Patrick went out for her two laps early in the session hitting the track eighth of the 45 cars. Her closest challenge came from Jeff Gordon who took the second spot with a speed of 196.292.

“I appreciate the recognition,” Patrick said. “But it really falls 90 percent on Tony (Gibson crew chief) and his guys; everybody that gives me the car to go out there and be fast and maybe 10 percent on me.” MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.