Former Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne lands pole for NASCAR's Nationwide season opener

Trevor Bayne climbs out of his car after taking the pole position for the NASCAR Nationwide series auto race Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (The Associated Press)

c749ebfc-NASCAR Daytona Nationwide Auto Racing

Danica Patrick signs autographs for fans after her qualifying run for Saturdays NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (The Associated Press)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Former Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne will start from the pole in the Nationwide Series season opener.

Bayne turned the fast lap during qualifying at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, averaging 177.162 mph around the 2 1/2-mile superspeedway.

Bayne is driving the No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, the car Ricky Stenhouse Jr. piloted to the last two championships in the second-tier series.

Sam Hornish Jr. will start second, followed by Parker Kligerman, Travis Pastrana and Austin Dillon.

Full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch (seventh), Matt Kenseth (ninth), Tony Stewart (10th), Brad Keselowski (11th), Danica Patrick (12th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (13th) and Kasey Kahne (19th) also are entered in Saturday's 300-mile race.

Kyle Larson, a rising star in NASCAR's ranks, will start 21st in his Nationwide debut.