NASCAR starting lineup at Kansas: Points leader Martin Truex Jr. claims the pole

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