Kasey Kahne ran a record 191.360 mph on Friday in qualifying for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. Kahne lapped the track in 28.219 seconds (191.360 mph) to edge second-place qualifier Mark Martin (191.238 mph) by .018 seconds. The pole is Kahne’s fourth of the season, the 26th of his career and his third at Kansas, tying him for most all time with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson.
Clint Bowyer, who hopes to gain ground on the top three drivers in the Chase, Brad Keselowski, Johnson and Denny Hamlin, grabbed the third starting spot with a lap at 191.130 mph. Kyle Busch (191.096 mph) qualified fourth, followed by Aric Almirola (190.988 mph). Columbia’s Carl Edwards will start 17th.
