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Speed on front row for ARCA race

Former Formula One racer Scott Speed will start from the front row on Saturday in the season opener of the ARCA RE/MAX Series at Daytona, where Dario Franchitti will also compete

Speed is entering his second stock car race after driving last year in an ARCA event at Talladega, where he finished seventh for Eddie Sharp Racing, the same team he will be competing for a full season this year.

The Red Bull-backed driver will be starting the season from the outside pole of the 43-car field, led by fellow Toyota driver Justin Marks. Toyota Camrys, in fact, swept the top three spots in qualifying.

"Daytona is definitely more driving-involved than Talladega because it is a lot bumpier," Speed said. "So for me Daytona is going to be even more fun!"

"Our goal here and for the first couple races is to get through them with top-5 or top-10 finishes and get some points on the board. We'll be very happy with that and to start the season solid in the points standings."

Dario Franchitti will also make his second ARCA start, having competed last year against Speed at Talladega. The Scot will start from ninth place in the first of four races he is set to make in nearly a week's time.

Once he completes his ARCA race on Saturday afternoon, he will race next Thursday in the Sprint Cup Gatorade Duel, then in the Nationwide Series race next Saturday followed by the Daytona 500 the a day later.

Five-time event winner Bobby Gerhart, who is trying to take a fourth consecutive win at the 200-mile event, will start the race from the outside of the second row of the grid as the fastest Chevrolet qualifier.

Hendrick Motorsports, Roush-Fenway Racing and Bill Davis Racing are also among the NASCAR Sprint Cup series teams fielding drivers in the event.

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