Kenseth to start 12th in Sunday's Daytona 500

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DAYTONA, Fla. - Wisconsin’s top NASCAR driver will start in the 12th position on Sunday, as Matt Kenseth of Cambridge tries to defend the Daytona-500 title he won a year ago.

Kenseth placed fifth yesterday in yesterday’s Budweiser Duels, but he was second going into the 60th-and-final lap before losing momentum. Kenseth was in the second of two 150-mile qualifying races. Paul Menard of Eau Claire will start 16th in the Great American Race, after he placed seventh in the final qualifier. He was in third place with 10 laps to go, but he fell behind three laps later.

Travis Kvapil of Janesville will take up the rear in the 43rd spot. That was after he took 17th in the second Duel. Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch won the two qualifiers. Beloit-born Danica Patrick finished 17th in the first Duel – but it had no bearing on her starting spot for Sunday. Patrick won the pole in a competition last weekend.

Tags: wisconsin sports, proam, racing