Kansas starting lineup: Matt Kenseth on pole; Toyotas in top four positions

Ray Slover

Kansas starting lineup: Matt Kenseth on pole; Toyotas in top four positions image

Matt Kenseth led a three-car sweep of top positions for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Kansas. It's step one of a possible Kenseth redemption.

Friday's qualifying put Kenseth in pole position, the first time this season he will enter as fastest starter. Beside him: Kyle Busch. Behind him: Carl Edwards, also of Joe Gibbs Racing.

Fourth? Another Toyota, driven by Gibbs ally Martin Truex Jr. Green flag: 2:31 p.m. ET.

MORE: Hendrick Motorsports resurgence | 10 drivers to watch

Kenseth finished 0.001 of a second faster than Busch. Look out, the Toyota bunch has speed for Sunday's race.

The evening included lengthening shadows on the track and a strong breeze. Both affected qualifying runs.

Sunday's race will be run in sunshine with a stronger breeze.

The Hollywood Casino 400 begins at 2:31 p.m. ET. It is the second race of the Round of 12 in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, with the finale at unpredictable Talladega.

Jimmie Johnson won last week at Charlotte for a free pass to the Round of 8. He is among favorites this week.

MORE: Five desperate drivers | What to watch for | 2017 rules changes

Five drivers had difficulty at Charlotte and are battling to get back into the eight transfer positions. Denny Hamlin, whose car blew an engine at Charlotte, is three points ahead of Chase Elliott and Austin Dillon. That is called being on the bubble … big time.

Behind them, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick will be pushing for victory and are more than capable of coming away with one.

MORE: Harvick clips wall, Kurt Busch wrecks car in Saturday practice

Here is Sunday's starting lineup. Chase drivers are listed in bold. NOTE: Kurt Busch will start from the rear of the field. He crashed his car in Saturday's second practice and had to switch to his backup car.
Pos. No. Driver Brand Speed
1 20 Matt Kenseth Toyota 192.089
2 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 192.082
3 19 Carl Edwards Toyota 191.015
4 78 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 190.786
5 88 Alex Bowman Chevy 190.315
6 22 Joey Logano Ford 190.221
7 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 190.188
8 2 Brad Keselowski Ford 190.087
9 31 Ryan Newman Chevy 189.927
10 47 AJ Allmendinger Chevy 189.84
11 4 Kevin Harvick Chevy 189.58
12 3 Austin Dillon Chevy 189.567
13 24 Chase Elliott Chevy 189.954
14 14 Tony Stewart Chevy 189.94
15 41 Kurt Busch Chevy 189.773
16 27 Paul Menard Chevy 189.76
17 21 Ryan Blaney Ford 189.54
18 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 189.387
19 10 Danica Patrick Chevy 189.241
20 5 Kasey Kahne Chevy 189.201
21 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevy 188.976
22 16 Greg Biffle Ford 188.93
23 1 Jamie McMurray Ford 188.094
24 42 Kyle Larson Chevy 186.034
25 6 Trevor Bayne Ford 188.376
26 7 Regan Smith Chevy 187.669
27 83 Matt DiBenedetto Toyota 187.578
28 23 David Ragan Toyota 187.513
29 13 Casey Mears Chevy 187.441
30 34 Chris Buescher Ford 187.331
31 15 Clint Bowyer Chevy 187.246
32 44 Brian Scott Ford 186.819
33 95 Michael McDowell Chevy 186.419
34 38 Landon Cassill Ford 185.052
35 43 Aric Almirola Ford 184.824
36 55 Cole Whitt Chevy 183.163
37 46 Michael Annett Chevy 181.898
38 32 Joey Gase Ford 180.56
39 98 Reed Sorenson Chevy 180.403
40 30 Josh Wise Chevy 179.85

 

Ray Slover