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Sprint Cup
CUP: Kahne Roars To Kansas Pole
Kasey Kahne wins pole on a record-breaking day at Kansas Speedway...
Kasey Kahne was the fastest of the fast on a very fast day at Kansas Speedway Friday as he won the pole for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup race.
Kahne ran 191.360 miles per hour as the entire field broke Matt Kenseth's qualifying record of 180.856.
The much faster speeds came courtesy of a freshly repaved and reconfigured track.
Fifteen drivers ran over 190 miles per hour, creating the stage for what could be a dramatic race Sunday. Most of the racing probably will be done in a single groove on the inside of the track unless much more rubber is “burned in” to the track during practice and Nationwide Series racing Saturday.
Following Kahne in the top five Friday were Mark Martin, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and Aric Almirola.
In the second five were Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.
Chase point leader Brad Keselowski qualified 25th, considerably behind his main competitors for the championship, Johnson and Hamlin. More importantly, the better qualifying results earned Johnson and Hamlin better pit-row spots for a race in which quick pit work and track position probably will be critical elements.
The pole is the fourth of the season for Kahne, who has 26 in his career.
“It’s fast, it’s smooth and it’s a great track,” Kahne said. “We’ve run pretty good here in the past. It doesn’t feel anything like the old track, but we had a really good balance today and were able to put down a good lap.”
Kahne said rubber from Saturday’s track activity should improve the chances of more than one racing groove for Sunday, “but it’s going to be tough to pass regardless.”
Bowyer, fourth in points, said the “face of the race is going to change quite a bit throughout the run. It’s definitely a strategy game. It’s nerve-wracking as a driver.”
Martin said drivers will be dealing with a lot of unknowns Sunday. “We’ll all watch the Nationwide race tomorrow,” he said. “I think the middle groove will come in tomorrow. It could be all new. There are a lot of questions. I never dreamed you’d see this kind of lap times here.”
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
Kahne ran 191.360 miles per hour as the entire field broke Matt Kenseth's qualifying record of 180.856.
The much faster speeds came courtesy of a freshly repaved and reconfigured track.
Fifteen drivers ran over 190 miles per hour, creating the stage for what could be a dramatic race Sunday. Most of the racing probably will be done in a single groove on the inside of the track unless much more rubber is “burned in” to the track during practice and Nationwide Series racing Saturday.
Following Kahne in the top five Friday were Mark Martin, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and Aric Almirola.
In the second five were Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.
Chase point leader Brad Keselowski qualified 25th, considerably behind his main competitors for the championship, Johnson and Hamlin. More importantly, the better qualifying results earned Johnson and Hamlin better pit-row spots for a race in which quick pit work and track position probably will be critical elements.
The pole is the fourth of the season for Kahne, who has 26 in his career.
“It’s fast, it’s smooth and it’s a great track,” Kahne said. “We’ve run pretty good here in the past. It doesn’t feel anything like the old track, but we had a really good balance today and were able to put down a good lap.”
Kahne said rubber from Saturday’s track activity should improve the chances of more than one racing groove for Sunday, “but it’s going to be tough to pass regardless.”
Bowyer, fourth in points, said the “face of the race is going to change quite a bit throughout the run. It’s definitely a strategy game. It’s nerve-wracking as a driver.”
Martin said drivers will be dealing with a lot of unknowns Sunday. “We’ll all watch the Nationwide race tomorrow,” he said. “I think the middle groove will come in tomorrow. It could be all new. There are a lot of questions. I never dreamed you’d see this kind of lap times here.”
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
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