Patrick finishes 31st in first complete NASCAR race

Posted at 12:00am on 21 February 2010

By Lewis Franck

FONTANA, California, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Danica Patrick finished 31st, three laps behind winner Kyle Busch, in her first complete NASCAR Nationwide race on Saturday.

Patrick, who is racing in some of NASCAR's second-tier series when her IndyCar schedule allows, started 36th in the 300-mile (500 km) race but dropped toward the rear of the 43-car field. She twice was penalised for speeding off pit row.

Her NASCAR debut last week at Daytona International Speedway was ended by a multi-car crash about halfway through the race.

"I've gotten used to running up front," said Patrick, the only woman so far to win an IndyCar race. "It's an adjustment... It's like starting from zero again."

Busch held off Greg Biffle for the victory. Both drive on NASCAR's top tier Sprint Cup Series. (Editing by Gene Cherry and Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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