While the media buzz will begin pumping up the Daytona 500, the most interesting race of Speedweeks will take place this Saturday when the ARCA Re/Max Series kicks off the 2010 season.

There will be loads of attention given to the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 with the entry list including Danica Patrick and Milka Duno from the Indy Racing League and former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr.

It’s Patrick’s and Duno’s first attempts at competing in a full-bodied stock car. But they’re not the only women seeking to make the starting grid. ARCA series regulars Alli Owens and Jennifer Jo Cobb along with Leilani Munter and Amber Cope are entered.

Unlike NASCAR, ARCA doesn’t lock in the top-point finishers from the 2009 season into the race.

Mark Gundrum, ARCA vice president, said Tuesday if qualifying is not rained out, the first 32 positions are determined by speed and then the provisionals kick-in to complete the 43 car field.

Gundrum said should rain wash out qualifying, Patrick has made a deal with Bobby Gerhart Racing to run a car number that has enough points to make the starting field.

“She’s in good enough equipment to qualify in the top 10 on time,” Gundrum said of Patrick.

Gundrum said during testing Patrick got a good feel for the draft and driving the heavier stock car on the high-banked Daytona oval.

“She didn’t practice pit stops,” he said. “If she can get on and off pit road, she will be fine.”

A problem facing Patrick is that expectations can be sky high for the ARCA race. Numerous times in the past an aspiring NASCAR driver has entered an ARCA race and walked away with a win in their first start.

In my opinion, if Patrick doesn’t crash and finishes the majority of the laps, it will be a successful first run in a stock car.

Testing and racing are two different things. It will be the first time Patrick will be on the track with 42 other cars, all looking to bump draft their way to the front, and will be racing in tight quarters.

Gundrum said if qualifying is rained out, based on the 2009 owner points, Piquet will start on the front row for the race with Mulder along side. That could make for an interesting start.

Three drivers with Indiana ties are entered in the event. Seven-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel really tops the field for the Daytona race. New Castle’s Dakoda Armstrong will be looking to make his first start and Darrell Basham of Henryville will also be looking to make the starting grid.

Who will be competing for the win?

There are two super teams in ARCA, the stable of Eddie Sharp Racing and Venturini Motorsports. I suspect the winner will come from one of those two teams with my hunch going with John Wes Townley, who has experience running on the superspeedways.

Other drivers to watch in addition to Kimmel are Justin Marks, Bryan Silas, Matt Lofton and Steve Arpin.

• Ken de la Bastide may be reached at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com or 765-454-8580.