KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Every championship contender knew starting position would be paramount at repaved Kansas Speedway, where getting to the front could present a problem.
Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer will have the luxury of starting there on the 1½-mile oval.
Kahne earned the pole for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 by shattering the track record at 191.360 mph, and Bowyer qualified third, behind Michael Waltrip Racing teammate Mark Martin, on Friday.
Kahne is fifth in points with five races left in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship; Bowyer is fourth. Leader Brad Keselowski lines up 25th; the only Chase driver to qualify worse was three-time champion Tony Stewart (33rd).
Denny Hamlin said he felt "100 percent and good to go" after a hard crash in Thursday's practice made him dizzy. He qualified ninth at 190.718 mph.
He also admitted he'd have a hard time stepping out of his car like Dale Earnhardt Jr. did for two races after sustaining two concussions in six weeks.
"There's no doubt about it that you would do whatever it took to stay in your car if you're in the middle of a championship battle," Hamlin said, "but one thing you can't hide is the signs that you are not right."
Also, Ford Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports will partner for a fourth consecutive season in 2013.
INDYCAR: Series founder Tony George resigned from the Hulman & Co. board of directors, citing a conflict of interest in his recent attempt to reacquire the series. IndyCar is owned by the Hulman-George family, which has owned Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1945, and is governed by the board.
FORMULA ONE: The inaugural Grand Prix of America in New Jersey was postponed until 2014 because organizers "didn't quite know what they were doing," series boss Bernie Ecclestone said. The race had been slated for June 16. The Jersey Journal said Weehawken (N.J.) Mayor Richard Turner contended organizers were behind on road repairs and permits.
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