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20th
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Kasey Kahne led all qualifiers and three non-qualifiers under the record in qualifying for the pole at the repaved, lightning-fast, Kansas Speedway on a cold Friday afternoon.
Oddly he didn't think his qualifying lap of 191.360 mph was good enough for the pole. “I went into (turn) three, and felt like I could go wide open. So I went back to wide open, and then I started just chattering a little bit. So, I eased off the throttle and back down. I definitely gave up a little time doing that,” said Kahne.
It was his fourth pole of the year and third at the mile-and-a-half track; 26th in his career.
“It doesn't feel anything like the old track,” Kahne said of repaved surface.
All 46 drivers attempting to qualify eclipsed the track record of qualifying record of 180.856 mph set by Matt Kenseth in 2005.
Mark Martin was second fast in the Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 191.237mph.
“We fought way too tight in practice, Rodney took a big leap in qualifying, he wasn't that bad but it definitely stepped out in between (turns) one and two,” said Martin.
Last week's winner in Charlotte, and Martin's teammate at MWR was third.
Mark Martin came up short by a little bit in the Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota.
Series points leader, Brad Keselowski will start 25th, Jimmie Johnson, second in the points, who is vying for his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup title goes off seventh.
Denny Hamlin, third in the points, who hit the wall in practice earlier this week, will start ninth.
The high speeds, thanks to the repave, and much warmer weather expected for Sunday's 400 mile race make it anyone's guess as to who has the advantage.
“I think it's a bit of a wild card,” said Kahne.
“It's not a Talladega wild card, but it's a bit of a wild card because you have to pick up on the surface. The only thing to me is it is pretty similar to Michigan. The size of the track isn't but the surface, the corners for whatever reason I think it feels really similar to Michigan.
“The guys that are running well right now ran pretty well at Michigan I would say they will figure it out. We had a great run today but everybody will figure it out for Sunday. We just need to try to stay ahead of them if we can.”
Oddly he didn't think his qualifying lap of 191.360 mph was good enough for the pole. “I went into (turn) three, and felt like I could go wide open. So I went back to wide open, and then I started just chattering a little bit. So, I eased off the throttle and back down. I definitely gave up a little time doing that,” said Kahne.
It was his fourth pole of the year and third at the mile-and-a-half track; 26th in his career.
“It doesn't feel anything like the old track,” Kahne said of repaved surface.
All 46 drivers attempting to qualify eclipsed the track record of qualifying record of 180.856 mph set by Matt Kenseth in 2005.
Mark Martin was second fast in the Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 191.237mph.
“We fought way too tight in practice, Rodney took a big leap in qualifying, he wasn't that bad but it definitely stepped out in between (turns) one and two,” said Martin.
Last week's winner in Charlotte, and Martin's teammate at MWR was third.
Mark Martin came up short by a little bit in the Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota.
Series points leader, Brad Keselowski will start 25th, Jimmie Johnson, second in the points, who is vying for his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup title goes off seventh.
Denny Hamlin, third in the points, who hit the wall in practice earlier this week, will start ninth.
The high speeds, thanks to the repave, and much warmer weather expected for Sunday's 400 mile race make it anyone's guess as to who has the advantage.
“I think it's a bit of a wild card,” said Kahne.
“It's not a Talladega wild card, but it's a bit of a wild card because you have to pick up on the surface. The only thing to me is it is pretty similar to Michigan. The size of the track isn't but the surface, the corners for whatever reason I think it feels really similar to Michigan.
“The guys that are running well right now ran pretty well at Michigan I would say they will figure it out. We had a great run today but everybody will figure it out for Sunday. We just need to try to stay ahead of them if we can.”