Sprint Cup points leader Mark Martin had to come from the 14th starting position to finish first and second in the first two Chase races.
In Sunday’s Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway, Martin simply will have to maintain his position—not improve it—after winning the pole during time trials on a blustery Friday at the 1.5-mile track. NASCAR
Martin headed a sweep by Hendrick Motorsports drivers as Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2002 pole winner at Kansas Speedway, was second (175.279), and Keselowski was third (175.205).
Martin, the sentimental favorite among fans to win the championship, heard the cheering from the crowd after he finished his lap.
“I try not to think too far forward right now,” Martin said, “because I don’t like to think about the possibility of letting all those people down. I will race with all my heart, like I have all my life, and I’m incredibly blessed.
“Hendrick Motorsports swept the top three spots … and I’m really excited for Dale Jr. He really needed the shot in the arm and got it.” Kansas City Star
POS CAR DRIVER MAKE 1 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet 2 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 3 25 Brad Keselowski Chevrolet 4 26 Jamie McMurray Ford 5 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 6 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge 7 187 Joe Nemechek Toyota 8 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 9 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 10 82 Scott Speed* Toyota 11 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 12 83 Brian Vickers Toyota 13 0 David Reutimann Toyota 14 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet 15 44 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge 16 21 Bill Elliott Ford 17 99 Carl Edwards Ford 18 20 Joey Logano* Toyota 19 9 Mike Bliss Dodge 20 98 Paul Menard Ford 21 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 22 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 23 17 Matt Kenseth Ford 24 66 Dave Blaney Toyota 25 6 David Ragan Ford 26 171 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 27 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota 28 43 Reed Sorenson Dodge 29 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 30 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 31 16 Greg Biffle Ford 32 12 David Stremme Dodge 33 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 34 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 35 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 36 7 Casey Mears Chevrolet 37 7 Robby Gordon Toyota 38 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 39 2 Kurt Busch Dodge 40 34 John Andretti+ Chevrolet 41 96 Erik Darnell+ Ford 42 19 Elliott Sadler+ Dodge 43 113 Max Papis* Toyota
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