Sports in brief

AUTO RACING

Danica wins Nationwide pole

In about 24 hours, Danica Patrick went from her biggest crash to her biggest moment in a stock car. Patrick won the pole Friday for the season-opening Nationwide Series race at Daytona, becoming the first woman to secure the top qualifying spot in NASCAR's second-tier series since Shawna Robinson at Atlanta on March 12, 1994. It came a day after Patrick wrecked on the final lap of a qualifying race for the Daytona 500. Patrick had already secured a qualifying spot for Sunday's 500 race and will drive a backup car.

NHLCanucks beat Devils

Aaron Rome and Mason Raymond scored for Vancouver as the Canucks beat the host Devils, 2-1. The Devils acquired defenseman Marek Zidlicky from the Wild for three players and two draft picks.

WNBA

Liberty picks up veteran

The Liberty has acquired veteran guard Kelly Miller from the Washington Mystics, the team's coach and general manager John Whisenant announced. Miller, a 12th-year veteran out of the University of Georgia, was co-winner of the WNBA's 2004 Most Improved Player Award and has career averages 7.2 points and 2.6 assists.

WINTER SPORTS

Smithtown's Daly in ninth

John Daly of Smithtown was ninth after his first two runs of the World Skeleton Championship at Lake Placid. He is 1.76 seconds behind leader Martins Dukurs.

-- AP