Logano wins Daytona qualifier; Zane Smith earns spot in 500
By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR champion Joey Logano won the first qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Thursday night for his third victory in the event that sets the field for “The Great American Race.” Zane Smith in a Ford for Front Row Motorsports earned one of the open positions in the Daytona 500 with an eighth-place finish. There are four spots in Sunday’s 40-car field being chased by six drivers. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and action star Travis Pastrana claimed two of the spots in time trials, leaving one spot open in each of the qualifying races. Smith is the reigning Truck Series champion, will make his Daytona 500 debut.