Female NASCAR Driver Stats across the three national series
The three national series are:
NASCAR Cup, XFINITY and Truck Series
updated 8-25-2024
Best points standing by a female driver in each of the three National Series (Cup, NXS, Trucks)
CUP: Sara Christian, 13th in 1949 (ran 6 of the 8 races); Janet Guthrie, 23rd in 1977; Danica Patrick, 24th in 2015 &2016)
XFINITY: Danica Patrick, 10th in 2012
TRUCKS: Jennifer Jo Cobb, 16th in 2014
Women drivers in NASCAR – Top Five in NASCAR starts across the three National Series (Cup, NXS, Trucks)
Jennifer Jo Cobb (31 XFINITY, 233 Trucks = 264, ran one race in 2024)
Danica Patrick (191 Cup, 61 XFINITY = 252 TOTAL, retired)
Patty Moise (133 XFINITY, 5 Cup = 138, retired)
Hailie Deegan (18 XFINITY, 69 Trucks = 87, looking for next ride, out of the #15 in XFINITY series)
Shawna Robinson (61 XFINITY, 8 Cup, 3 Trucks = 72, retired)
Women in NASCAR – Sixteen(16) female drivers have run at least one race in the Cup Series
(by earliest date raced, top five in starts noted)
3) Louise Smith (11 starts/from 1949-1952)
5) Sara Christian (7 / 1949-1950)
Ethel [Flock] Mobley (2 / 1949)
Ann Bunselmeyer (1 / 1950)
Ann Chester (2 / 1950)
Ann Slaasted (1 / 1950)
Marian Pagan (1 / 1954)
Fifi Scott(-McGillicuddy) (2 / 1955)
Goldie Parsons (1 / 1965)
2) Janet Guthrie (33 / 1976-1980)
Christine Beckers (1 / 1977)
Lella Lombardi (1 / 1977)
Robin McCall (2 / 1982; note: Wally Dallenbach Jr’s wife)
Patty Moise (5 / 1987-1989; note: Elton Sawyer’s wife, plus ran 2 Winston Open’s)
4) Shawna Robinson (8 / 2001-2002)
1) Danica Patrick (191 / 2012-2018)
Top-Ten Finishes by a female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series:
Sara Christian, Pittsburgh, 10-2-1949, 5th (out of 23 cars)
Danica Patrick, Atlanta, 8-31-2014, 6th (out of 43 cars)
Sara Christian, Langhorne, 9-11-1949, 6th (out of 45 cars)
Janet Guthrie, Bristol, 8-28-1977, 6th (out of 29 cars)
Danica Patrick, Martinsville, 3-29-2015, 7th (out of 43 cars)
Danica Patrick, Kansas, 5-10-2014, 7th (out of 43 cars)
Danica Patrick, Daytona, 2-25-2013, 8th (out of 43 cars)
Danica Patrick, Daytona, 7-6-2014, 8th (out of 43 cars)
Janet Guthrie, Charlotte, 10-9-1977, 9th (out of 41 cars)
Janet Guthrie, Rockingham, 10-23-1977, 9th (out of 36 cars)
Danica Patrick, Bristol, 4-19-2015, 9th (out of 43 cars)
Janet Guthrie, Atlanta, 3-19-1978, 10th (out of 40 cars)
Janet Guthrie, Michigan, 8-22-1977, 10th (out of 36 cars)
Danica Patrick, Dover, 6-4-2017, 10th (out of 39 cars)
Women in NASCAR – Twenty Six (26) female drivers have run at least one race in the XFINITY Series
(by earliest date raced, top five in starts noted)
Lisa Jackson (1 / 1982)
Diane Teel (11 / 1982-1986)(2 top 10 finishes, 8th & 10th)
1) Patty Moise (133 / 1986-1998)(4 top 10 finishes, best of 7th)
Debbie Lunsford (1 / 1989)
2) Shawna Robinson (61 / 1991-2005)(1 top 10 finish, a 10th)
Kat Teasdale (1 / 1998)
Tina Gordon (14 / 2001-04)(1 top 10 finish, a 10th)
Tammy Jo Kirk (15 / 2003)(no top 10 finishes)
5) Jennifer Jo Cobb (31 / 2004-2012, 2014-2018)(no top 10 finishes)
Kim Crosby (10 / 2004-2006)(no top 10 finishes)
Mara Reyes (1 / 2005)
Erin Crocker (10 / 2005-2006)(no top 10 finishes)
Chrissy Wallace (2 / 2010)
Maryeve Dufault (2 / 2011-2013)
2) Danica Patrick (61 / 2010-2014)(1 top 5 & 7 top 10’s best of 4th)
Angela (Cope) Ruch (14 / 2011-2012, 2017-2018)(no top 10 finishes)
Amber Cope (2 / 2011-2012)
4) Johanna Long (42 / 2012-2013, 2015)(no top 10 finishes)
Milka Duno (2 / 2014)
Mackena Bell (1 / 2014)
Alli Owens (1 / 2016)
Paige Decker (2 / 2016)
Katherine Legge (5 / 2018; 2023 – current)(part-time)
Natalie Decker (12 / 2021-current)(part-time)(best finish 18th)
Julia Landauer (2 / 2022-current)(part-time)
Hailie Deegan (18 / 2022; 2024 – ?current)(unknown plans as of 7/8/2024)(best finish of 12th)
Women in NASCAR – Twenty Five(25) female drivers have run at least one race in the Craftsman Truck Series:
(by earliest date raced, top five in starts noted)
5) Tammy Jo Kirk (32 / 1997-1998)(no top 10 finishes)
Angie Wilson (4 / 2002)(no top 10 finishes)
Teri MacDonald (7 / 2002-2004)(no top 10 finishes)
Shawna Robinson (3 / 2003)(no top 10 finishes)
Tina Gordon (16 / 2003-2004)(no top 10 finishes)
3) Kelly Sutton (54 / 2003-2007)(no top 10 finishes)
4) Deborah Renshaw (38 / 2004-2005)(no top 10 finishes)
Erin Crocker (29 / 2005-2008)(no top 10 finishes)(one full time season)
Chrissy Wallace (7 / 2008-2009)(no top 10 finishes)
Michelle Theriault (6 / 2008-2010)(no top 10 finishes)
1) Jennifer Jo Cobb (233 / 2008-2024)(part-time)(1 career top 10, a 6th)
Gabi DiCarlo (3 / 2009)(no top 10 finishes)
Caitlin Shaw (2 / 2009-2010)(no top 10 finishes)
Johanna Long (24 / 2011)(no top 10 finishes)
Angela (Cope) Ruch (18 / 2010-2020)(1 career top 10, an 8th)
Amber Cope (1 / 2010)(finished 26th)
Milka Duno (1 / 2014)(finished 25th)
Paige Decker (2 / 2015-2016)(no top 10 finishes)
Claire Decker (2 / 2016)(no top 10 finishes)
Dominique Van Wieringen (1 / 2016)(finished 31st)
5) Natalie Decker (32 / 2019-2020)(1 career top 5&10, a 5th)
2) Hailie Deegan (69 / 2020 – 2023)(5 career top 10s with two 6ths)
Michele Abbate (1 / 2021 – 2021)(finished 29th)
Jessica Friesen (2 / 2021 – current)(dirt races)(no top 10 finishes)
Toni Breidinger (4 / 2023 – current)(best finish of 15th)
The highest finishes for a female driver in the Truck Series, hasn’t been many full timers:
Hailie Deegan (2020-2023), 5 career top 10s with best finish of two 6ths, best season in 2021 finishing 17th in drivers standings, currently active full time
Natalie Decker (2019-2020) 1 career top 5 & 10, a 5th in 33 races, 3 part time seasons
Angela (Cope) Ruch (2010-2020) 1 career top 10, an 8th in 18 races, 3 part time seasons
Jennifer Jo Cobb (2008-2023) 1 career top 10, a 6th in 231 races, best season in 2014 finishing 16th in drivers standings which is the record for best (ran one race in 2023 and attempted a few)
Hailie Deegan, AM Racing part ways Hailie Deegan and AM Racing have parted ways after 17 races together in the Xfinity Series. Joey Logano drove the #15 Ford to a top-10 finish over the weekend at the Chicago Street Course. “Beginning this season, I had a lot of excitement and hope in taking my next step in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” Deegan said in a statement posted on Twitter. “It’s something I’ve been working towards for years and always dreamt about. I worked hard to prepare for this season after the ream pursued me to drive their car. Unfortunately, it has not turned out the way that I expected. There are always several reasons within a race team as to why things do or do not work, but sadly our goals no longer align. With that being said, myself and AM Racing will be parting ways. “The only thing I am focused on is getting back to being competitive. That is all that matters to me. I’m working as quick as possible to find the best opportunities to get back to the track.”
AM Racing confirmed the separation. “AM Racing and Hailie Deegan have decided to part ways, effective immediately,” the team said. “We are grateful for Hailie’s contributions and dedication as the driver of the No. 15 Ford Mustang during her time with the race team.”(Jayski.com)(7-8-2024)
Joey Logano replacing Hailie Deegan at Chicago Street Race AM Racing confirmed today that Ford Performance driver Joey Logano will drive the No. 15 AM Racing Ford Mustang for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 6. Logano, Sunday’s winner of the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 race at Nashville Superspeedway will fill in for Hailie Deegan, who has piloted the team’s Ford Mustang in the first 17 Xfinity races of the season. After a rough start to the first half of the Xfinity Series season, the team is looking to channel the two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and Sunday’s winner at Nashville Superspeedway to help provide feedback that the team can use to improve on-track competition as the sport heads into the second half of the season.(Jayski.com)(7-1-2024)
Hailie Deegan signs multiyear deal with AM Racing to compete in Xfinity Series: Officials from AM Racing confirmed today that Ford Performance Motorsports development driver Hailie Deegan has inked a multiyear deal with the team to pilot the #15 Ford Mustang full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series beginning with the season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on February 17, 2024. Deegan will join the Statesville, N.C. team following a three-year stint in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, including running the full 23-race schedule with ThorSport Racing aboard the #13 Ford F-150 this season. The two-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, Most Popular driver, also made her NASCAR Xfinity Series debut during the 2022 season when she piloted the No. 07 Ford Mustang for SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, where she impressed with a lead lap 13th-place performance after starting 20th. Deegan, 22, also competed in the ARCA Menards Series West in 2018 and ’19, earning three victories, respectively. Deegan, a native of Temecula, Calif., joined Ford Performance as part of its driver development program following the 2019 season and drove in a variety of different disciplines in 2020, including the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the premier ARCA Menards Series division in 2020, where she recorded seven top-five and 17 top-10s overall earning a third place finish in championship points and the highest position by a female driver in the NASCAR-owned developmental series. She also claimed ARCA Rookie of the Year honors. 2024 will begin her newest endeavor with Ford Performance Motorsport’s driver development program in AM Racing’s sophomore NASCAR Xfinity Series season. AM Racing has also renewed its agreement with Roush Yates Engines to continue to provide the legendary Ford horsepower for the No. 15 Ford Mustang for the anticipated 33-race schedule next season. AM Racing also announced Thursday the addition of AirBox, Inc. (AirBox) and VIVA Tequila Seltzer, who will serve as primary marketing partners for Deegan throughout her inaugural Xfinity Series season.(AM Racing PR)(10-5-2023)
Toni Breidinger makes her Truck Series debut at Kansas: Toni Breidinger made history in more ways than one with a top-15 finish during a career night in Saturday’s Heart of America 200 at Kansas Speedway. While making her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut, she became the first woman to compete in the ARCA Menards Series and the Truck Series in the same day. Breidinger also became the first Arab American woman to compete in one of NASCAR’s three National Touring Series. In her Truck Series debut, the driver of the #1 Victoria’s Secret Toyota Tundra TRD Pro learned more about dirty air, the aerodynamic effects of traffic, and more. With smaller fields in ARCA competition, the effects of the air are lessened. Using advice that Tanner and her other teammates, Corey Heim and Dean Thompson, gave her throughout the weekend, Breidinger followed the #15 Toyota through to the top-15. When the checkered flag waved, she was 15th, the best debut result for a woman in Truck Series history. The previous best was Hailie Deegan and Johanna Long’s 17th-place finishes.(Kickin’ the Tires)(5-7-2023)
Deegan finishes 13th in her first XFINITY Series start: In her career debut in the #NASCAR Xfinity Series, Hailie Deegan impressed by bringing her #07 Ford home in 13th position Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Deegan finished on the lead lap, something she’s done only 11 times in 21 Camping World Truck Series starts this season, where she competes full-time. Deegan made the start for SS Greenlight Racing, through her car was fully prepared by Stewart-Haas Racing.(SPEED SPORT)(10-16-2023)
Deegan Scores Career-Best Finish (6th) In Wild Talladega Truck Series Race: In a wild, up and down day at Talladega Superspeedway, Hailie Deegan scored her best career finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Strategy during the stage break at the end of stage two moved Deegan’s #1 Monster Energy Ford F-150 into the top-five. Prior to staying out, she had climbed into the top-20, running the fastest lap of the race by pushing Parker Kligerman. However, Deegan struggled to lead a lane. Her truck was better as a pusher compared to being pushed in the draft. Once back in line, the speed came back to Deegan’s truck. Her run inside the top-10 was nearly derailed, however. On Lap 64 when the entire field pitted under green, she slid through her box and clipped her tire carrier. The Goodyear Wrangler tire went flying into the infield, and the David Gilliland Racing crew member gave chase, forcing NASCAR officials to throw the caution. As a result, Deegan was penalized to the tail of the field and the crew member was ejected. But the Temecula, Calif., native quickly rallied. In short green flag runs, she navigated through the draft and into the top-15. After Carson Hocevar’s late caution pushed the race into overtime, she lined up 11th. On the restart she blocked Kligerman, forcing him below the double-yellow line. NASCAR didn’t call the penalty and she continued her march forward. Coming to the checkered flag, Deegan was swept up in the multi-truck melee that ended the race under caution and spun across the line in eighth. After Truck Series officials reviewed the video at the time of caution, she was awarded sixth placeThe top-10 finishes at Talladega and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course earlier this season makes her the first woman in this history of the Truck Series to score multiple top-10 finishes in a single season.(Kickinthetires.net)(10-1-2022)
Deegan gets 3rd best finish by a female competitor in NASCAR Truck Series history: The seventh-place finish by rookie #1-Hailie Deegan at the Toyota 200 presented by CK Power NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway marked her first top-10 finish in the NASCAR Truck Series and third-best finish by a female and only the fourth woman to earn a top-10 in the series all-time. The others: best finish by Natalie Decker (fifth at Daytona in 2020); Jennifer Jo Cobb (sixth at Daytona in 2011); Angela Ruch (eighth at Daytona in 2019)(8-20-2021)
Natalie Decker scores best finish by a female competitor in NASCAR Truck Series history: Natalie Decker finished fifth in Friday’s NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway – the highest ever finish for a female driver in series history; a fact that even she wasn’t aware of when she first approached the large crowd waiting to get her reaction. It was Decker’s first top five, first top 10 and the best showing for her since a 13th-place finish at Las Vegas in March, 2019 – her rookie season.(read more)(2-15-2020)
Angela Ruch gets top 10 at Daytona: In a race at Daytona International Speedway that saw a record 11 cautions, a record 55 caution laps and just nine of 32 trucks running at the finish, Austin Hill took the checkered flag on the 11th lap of NASCAR overtime to win for the first time in the series—in the Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota that carried Brett Moffitt to the championship last year. Grant Enfinger ran second, 0.278 seconds behind Hill, after surviving a 12-car pileup in Turn 4 on Lap 54. Enfinger rallied from two laps down and tried to manufacture a run on Hill through the final two corners, but Hill blocked him effectively off Turn 4 and cruised to the finish line. Ross Chastain ran third in his first run for Niece Motorsports. Spencer Boyd was fourth, followed by Matt Crafton, Josh Reaume, Timothy Peters, Angela Ruch and Austin Wayne Self, who’s battered #22 Chevrolet was the last car running at the finish. Racing in the Truck Series for the first time since 2010, and for only the second time in her career, Ruch posted her best finish in a national series event. Her eighth-place result was the second highest by a female driver in NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series history, with the record belonging to Jennifer Jo Cobb (sixth at Daytona in 2011).(NASCAR Wire Service)(2-16-2019)
Ganassi, Team Danica discuss possibilities for 2018 partnership: Team owner Chip Ganassi spoke personally with Danica Patrick and her representatives Thursday and Friday about
the possibility of fielding cars for her in either the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, or both, but said he doesn’t yet have enough information to determine if participating in her farewell jaunt is
feasible. Patrick has expressed confidence in being able to bring sponsorship to field both ventures. Ganassi said “I would think it would be better to do it with one team.” The team owner said he has not had time to consider when he’d need a commitment and firm details from Patrick’s camp.(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](11-18-2017)
Danica announces 2017 will be final season as full-time driver, but….; TV in future? Following Sunday’s race in Homestead, Danica plans to step away from full-time competition.
While Danica may not be competing on a weekly basis next year, we are thrilled to share with you that she will be doing the “Danica Double” and will be a part of the 60th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in February and the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.(Danica Patrick Racing)
AND Danica Patrick is in talks with NBC Sports to potentially join the network in the coming months, although her driving career might not quite be finished, two people with knowledge of her future plans told USA TODAY Sports on Friday.(USA Today)[Read More Here](11-17-2017)
Patrick breaks record for most top-tens by a female: Danica Patrick and the Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) #10 GoDaddy Chevy team overcame a number of hurdles during Sunday’s Food City 500 in Support of Steve Byrnes and Stand Up To Cancer NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, and despite all odds, they never gave up and earned a ninth-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway. The effort was Patrick’s second top-10 of the season and the sixth of her 90-race Sprint Cup career. With her result at Bristol, Patrick has now surpassed Janet Guthrie for the most top-10 finishes ever by a female driver in the Sprint Cup Series.(SHR)(4-20-2015)
UPDATE Patrick extended her record of top-tens by a female driver to 7 after 167 races (6-4-2017)
Patrick ties most top 10s by a woman: Danica Patrick knows sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. On a long Sunday afternoon at Martinsville, she was both lucky and good. Patrick enjoyed a seventh-place finish in the STP 500 with a little luck, good driving and a good car. One off her career best of sixth set in August at Atlanta, this marked her fifth top-10 finish, which ties her with Janet Guthrie for the most top-10s by a woman in the Sprint Cup Series. The finish was by far her best of the season — she hadn’t finished in the top 15 this year — as she moved up seven spots in the standings to 16th. It was the first race this year where it appeared she and crew chief Daniel Knost made significant gains in getting the car better.(ESPN.com)(3-30-2015)
Patrick, second best finish by female driver in Cup: #10-Danica Patrick’s sixth-place finish is the highest finish by a female at Atlanta. The previous record was Janet Guthrie’s 10th-place finish on March 19, 1978. Only a fifth-place result by Sara Christian in a Sprint Cup race on Oct. 2, 1949 at Heidelberg (Pa.) Raceway tops Patrick’s finish. Christian also finished sixth at Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway on Sept. 11, 1949 and Guthrie finished sixth at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on Aug. 28, 1977. Though she ended up one spot behind Christian’s record, Patrick notched her third top-10 of the year as she finished seventh in May at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City and eighth in July at Daytona. If she scores one more top-10 in 2014, she will tie Guthrie, who had
four in 1977.(SHR PR)(9-5-2014)
Patrick records best Talladega finish for female: Three female drivers have competed at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie (3 races), Patty Moise (1 race) and Danica Patrick (now 3 races). Before Patrick finished 22nd on Sunday. Guthrie’s finish of 29th in August of 1978 was the best finish at Talladega by a female driver. Patrick had finished 33rd in both 2013 Talladega starts. Patrick also lead the race twice for 6 laps, becoming the first female driver to lead a lap at Talladega in a Sprint Cup race.(5-5-2014)
Guthrie congratulates Patrick on Daytona pole: Danica Patrick has found more than the success that eluded Janet Guthrie in her brief NASCAR stint. Patrick also has the acceptance in the garage that Guthrie never did. Guthrie struggled in an era when women were still viewed in stock car racing as unwanted outsiders. Guthrie, the first woman to race in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in 1976, received an icy reception from the sport’s biggest drivers as she tried to build her career. It was in stark contrast to the scene on pit road moments after Patrick clinched her Daytona 500 pole – with a hug from Tony Stewart and a handshake from Jeff Gordon Guthrie congratulated Patrick on Sunday for becoming the first woman to win the top spot for any race in NASCAR’s top circuit. But Guthrie was more proud of the way NASCAR’s attitude toward women has evolved over the last 30 years. Guthrie was heartened at seeing a women succeed in a man’s world. “It took time for that attitude to change, but it did change,” Guthrie told The Associated Press by phone Sunday. “That was one of my biggest pleasures was seeing that attitude change.” Guthrie was the previous best female qualifier in a Cup race. She started ninth at Bristol and Talladega in 1977. She was the first woman to drive in the Indianapolis 500 in 1977, that same year she became the first to run in the Daytona 500. A ninth-place finish at Indy in 1978 stood as the best by a woman until Patrick finished fourth in 2005, then third in 2009. “I’m ancient history,” Guthrie said, from Colorado. “It’s about time my little record got broken.”(see full article at the Associated Press)(2-18-2013)
Danica Patrick Becomes First Female Pole Winner In NASCAR Sprint Cup History: #10-Danica Patrick made NASCAR history today during Coors Light Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500, becoming the first female driver to win a pole at NASCAR’s top level – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. During qualifying for the sport’s marquee event, Patrick turned a lap of 196.434 mph (45.817 seconds), giving her the first starting position for next Sunday’s Daytona 500. It was the fastest Daytona 500 pole-winning speed since 1990. Patrick shattered the previous record for top starting spot by a female NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. Janet Guthrie previously held the mark, twice starting ninth in 1977. She started ninth at Talladega Superspeedway on Aug. 7, 1977 and at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 28, 1977. The previous best starting position for a female in the Daytona 500 was 18th by Janet Guthrie in 1980. This is Patrick’s second NASCAR pole, also winning the Coors Light Pole for the season-opening NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Daytona last season. The only other female to win a NASCAR national series pole was Shawna Robinson in a NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1994. Already a NASCAR record holder, Patrick set the mark of best finish by a female driver in NASCAR national series history when she finished fourth in a NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011. She finished 10th in the final 2012 NASCAR XFINITY points standings, the top finish by a female in NASCAR national series history. Patrick, who is running for the 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, is the first rookie to win the Daytona 500 pole since Jimmie Johnson in
2002.(NASCAR)(2-17-2013)
Patrick wins Daytona 500 pole: #10-Danica Patrick won the pole for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 196.925mph. Patrick is the
first female driver to win a pole in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history. #24-Gordon won the outside pole and will start 2nd next Sunday. #21-Bayne was 3rd fastest, followed by #38-Newman,
#14-Stewart, #5-Kahne, #11-Hamlin, #18-Busch, #22-Logano and #20-Kenseth.
#10-Partick (pole) and #24-Gordon (outside pole) are locked in their starting spots. Eleven other drivers are locked into the Daytona 500 field: , #21-Bayne (speed), #39-Newman (speed),
#14-Stewart (speed), #5-Kahne (speed), #2-Keselowski (owners points/provisional), #15-Bowyer (op/prov), #48-Johnson (op/prov), #16-Biffle (op/prov), #11-Hamlin (op/prov), #17-Stenhouse Jr. (op/prov), and #78-Kurt Busch (past champions provisional). If any of those eleven race their way into the Daytona 500 [finishing 16th of better in their Duel], other drivers will be eligible to make the race on speed, owners points or past champions provisional. See qualifying results and how drivers will start in the Budweiser Duel on the 2013 Budweiser Duel page.(2-17-2013)
Danica Patrick wins XFINITY pole at Daytona: #7-Danica Patrick captured the first pole of her NASCAR career during XFINITY Series qualifying for Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Patrick posted a 182.741 mph lap, making her the second woman in the history of the XFINITY Series to start on the pole and the first to win a NASCAR pole at Daytona. “I really wanted to get the pole for Tony Eury Jr.,” said Patrick of her crew chief on the #7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. “He’s never been on the pole here at Daytona and he builds some really good superspeedway cars. For me to be able to push the pedal and get that done makes me feel really good.”(Daytona International Speedway) Shawna Robinson is the other woman to win a NASCAR XFINITY pole, at Atlanta on March 12, 1994.(2-24-2012)
Sara Christian has the best finish of the 16 women, a fifth at Heidelberg Speedway in Pittsburgh, PA on Oct 2, 1949(ESPN2’s RPM 2Night – stats by Jayski from Greg Feilden’s Stock
Car Racing Encyclopedia). Some list another woman, Sandy Lynch, but research revealed that Sandy was not a woman, full name: Sandy Neal Lynch (also a son of a former Lynch crew member emailed me in April and said Sandy was a male)(6-8-2001 / 2-26-2012)