LAS VEGAS, March 9 (UPI) -- Kasey Kahne earned the pole Friday for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 400 by recording a speed of 190.456 mph in qualifying at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
It is the 23rd career Sprint Cup pole for Khane and his first since moving to the Hendrick Motorsports team.
"The car was awesome," Kahne said. "It's unreal how well the Hendrick engines run. It was the same way last weekend at Phoenix. It was a great effort by the team, and I'm looking forward to Sunday."
Kahne became the first driver to win three poles at the Las Vegas track. He started out front in the 2004 and 2007 races, but has never won in Las Vegas.
Kyle Bush will start on the outside of the first row after turning in a lap at 190.040 mph.
Kevin Harvick qualified third, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Boyer. The rest of the first 10 was made up of Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, Greg Biffle and Martin Truex Jr.
Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth qualified 11th and Denny Hamlin, the current points leader, was 17th.
