NASCAR at Kansas City 2017 Qualifying Results: Ryan Blaney Earns 1st Career Pole

Ryan Blaney will lead the field to the starting line in Saturday night's 2017 Go Bowling 400 after posting the best time in the final round of qualifying Friday at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. It's the first pole of the Wood Brothers Racing driver's career.         

The number of cars unable to pass technical inspection in time to enter the qualifying fray was the other top storyline Friday evening. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne were the most notable names among the 12 teams that never made it onto the track.

Here's a look at the complete qualifying results for the 11th race of the season:

Place	Driver	Car No.	Time
1	Ryan Blaney	21	28.481
2	Joey Logano	22	28.490
3	Martin Truex Jr.	78	28.541
4	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	17	28.594
5	Kyle Busch	18	28.648
6	Kurt Busch	41	28.648
7	Denny Hamlin	11	28.680
8	Kevin Harvick	4	28.685
9	Kyle Larson	42	28.731
10	Chase Elliott	24	28.801
11	Austin Dillon	3	28.840
12	Jamie McMurray	1	28.895
—	Eliminated in Round 2	—	—
13	Aric Almirola	43	28.712
14	Matt Kenseth	20	28.726
15	Daniel Suarez	19	28.728
16	Trevor Bayne	6	28.744
17	Brad Keselowski	2	28.750
18	Paul Menard	27	28.766
19	Ryan Newman	31	28.775
20	Chris Buescher	37	28.895
21	AJ Allmendinger	47	28.898
22	Ty Dillon	13	29.013
23	Matt DiBenedetto	32	29.103
24	Danica Patrick	10	29.252
—	Eliminated in Round 1	—	—
25	Gray Gaulding	23	29.339
26	Cole Whitt	72	29.783
27	Jeffrey Earnhardt	33	30.313
28	Derrike Cope	55	30.875
29	Jimmie Johnson	48	DNP
30	Clint Bowyer	14	DNP
31	Kasey Kahne	5	DNP
32	Erik Jones	77	DNP
33	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	88	DNP
34	David Ragan	38	DNP
35	Michael McDowell	95	DNP
36	Landon Cassill	34	DNP
37	Reed Sorenson	55	DNP
38	Corey LaJoie	83	DNP
39	Timmy Hill	51	DNP
40	Carl Long	66	DNP

Blaney has made a habit of starting near the front all year. He's started seventh or better in six of the season's first 10 races. Being able to translate that success into equally strong finishes has been a problem, however, as he's earned just three top-10 results.

Tim Durr of Fox Sports passed along comments from the 23-year-old rising star, who was surprised his time was good enough to get the top spot.

"I didn't think I got through that lap that great. I came out with a pretty decent time, and it was enough for it," Blaney said. "I think we've been second three times this year, so that was getting old. It's so cool to sit on the pole. That's something I've really wanted to do. Qualifying probably isn't my best suit, but we got better and better, and that's all we can ask for."

Earnhardt congratulated Blaney on winning pole position:

"

I look up from beating LIS machine with baseball bat and see @Blaney got the pole? Awesome job!! He's part of the future and its gonna be落

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) May 12, 2017"

Kansas Speedway highlighted him putting his prize to immediate use:

Races where so many contending teams aren't able to produce qualifying results are always more unpredictable. It brings more variables into play, especially in terms of the potential for early wrecks as everyone tries to navigate through the field.

Johnson in particular will remain dangerous despite starting deep in the pack. He's scored three victories and 17 top-10 finishes in 21 career starts at Kansas Speedway, where his average finish of 8.9 is the fourth-best of any track he's raced on, per Yahoo Sports.

Blaney will be the focus, though. He's one of the sport's most promising young drivers, so this is the first of what's likely to become a double-digit pole total for his career. That said, turning good qualification into a top-five finish on race day is the next step he must take.

The Go Bowling 400 is scheduled for Saturday night at 7:30 ET on Fox Sports 1.