Milka Duno makes history then spins early in debut

"What I think is that I was in the outside line, and I lost a little downforce on the back and then I lost it into the wall," said a disappointed Duno, who said she tentatively hopes to return for the series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "It was so bad because even with just a few laps, I was having a good race and passing cars outside. I was feeling a little more confident, I think, and then I lost the car."

Duno, who hails from Caracas, Venezuela, qualified 34th and is the 18th different female driver to make a NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Driving the No. 29 RAB Racing Toyota Camry for car owner Robby Benton, her third attempt was the charm. The 42-year-old had previously attempted to make the field at Bristol Motor Speedway in August and last weekend at Dover International Speedway.

A former IndyCar and ARCA Racing Series driver, Duno has eight major sportscar race wins in the American Le Mans Series and the Rolex GRAND-AM Series and a runner-up result in the 24 Hours at Daytona, the highest finish ever by a woman. In 2007, she became the first Hispanic woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500.

Mara Reyes became the first Hispanic female driver in a national series race when she ran the 2005 Nationwide race in Mexico City. Reyes started 39th and finished 35th in the inaugural race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Two women ran Saturday's Nationwide event as Jennifer Jo Cobb made the race as well. It will be Cobb's season debut in the series. She has five previous series starts at Kansas, posting a best finish of 22nd in 2012.

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