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NASCAR starting lineup at Kansas
Martin Truex Jr. will be in prime position to maintain his lead atop NASCAR's playoff standings.
To be more specific, the points leader will be in the pole position for Sunday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas.
Joining Truex, who will have the first pit stall next week at Martinsville, on the front row will be Kevin Harvick. Ryan Blaney, who won the pole at Kansas earlier this year and is seventh in the playoff standings, qualified third for Sunday's race. Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin close out the top five.
Brad Keselowski, who is second in the playoff standings, will start Sunday's race in the 11th spot.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the only playoff driver who did not advance out of the first round of qualifying. Stenhouse will start Sunday's race in the 25th position.
"In practice, we were a little loose and made some adjustments," Stenhouse told NBC Sports. "We were really fighting a couple of things and just didn't have enough grip to get the job done."
Kyle Larson, who had the fastest practice time and is third in the playoff standings, will start 14th after failing to reach the final round of qualifying. Right behind Larson will be Chase Elliott, who is sixth in the playoff standings. Jimmie Johnson, who just missed out on the final round, will begin 13th as he attempts to improve on his eighth playoff spot.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start 20th as his final Cup Series season nears its end.
Starting lineup for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas:
1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Ryan Blaney
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Daniel Suarez
7. Erik Jones
8. Kyle Busch
9. Jamie McMurray
10. Clint Bowyer
11. Brad Keselowski
12. Austin Dillon
13. Jimmie Johnson
14. Kyle Larson
15. Chase Elliott
16. Kurt Busch
17. Michael McDowell
18. Joey Logano
19. Ryan Newman
20. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
21. Chris Buescher
22. Kasey Kahne
23. Danica Patrick
24. Paul Menard
25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
26. Aric Almirola
27. AJ Allmendinger
28. David Ragan
29. Trevor Bayne
30. Ty Dillon
31. Matt DiBenedetto
32. Landon Cassill
33. Brett Moffitt
34. Gray Gaulding
35. Corey Lajoie
36. Cole Whitt
37. B.J. McLeod
38. Reed Sorenson
39. Jeffrey Earnhardt
40. Derrike Cope
Playoff standings entering Sunday's Holywood Casino 400 at Kansas
1. Martin Truex Jr., 3,120 points
2. Brad Keselowski -19
3. Kyle Larson, -24
4. Kevin Harvick, -31
5. Denny Hamlin, -32
6. Chase Elliott, -33
7. Ryan Blaney, -44
8. Jimmie Johnson, -46
9. Kyle Busch, -53
10. Matt Kenseth, -54
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., -68
12. Jamie McMurray, -75
