Logano on Pole After Rain Washes Out Kansas Practice
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 26, 2026
Kansas pole position
Joey Logano will start on the pole at Kansas Speedway, with Kyle Larson on the front row, for the NASCAR Cup Series race that serves as the fourth stop in the 10-race championship run. The 36-car starting lineup gives Logano the top spot and puts Larson alongside him when the field rolls off for the Hollywood Casino 400. Christopher Bell will start third, with Carson Hocevar fourth, Ty Gibbs fifth and Denny Hamlin sixth. That order puts several of the drivers who matter most in the championship chase near the front of the pack before the race even begins. Logano arrives with the best starting position in the field, and Larson follows right behind him after coming to Kansas as the points leader. The front row gives both drivers an immediate presence in a race that can shift the standings quickly, especially with so many title contenders clustered close together in the early part of the playoff stretch. Kansas also delivers a full slate of Cup names near the top of the grid, which sets up a competitive opening to the weekend and a tight battle once the green flag drops.
Championship standings tighten
Larson comes into Kansas after finishing second at Bristol and holding a one-point lead over Hamlin. That edge keeps the top of the standings packed tightly as the championship run moves through its first third. Logano sits third in the standings, 16 points behind Larson, while Bell ranks fourth, 17 points back. Those margins leave little room for a mistake, and they also keep the pressure on the drivers who will start near the front at Kansas. A strong finish can move a contender toward the top of the standings in a hurry. A poor result can do the opposite just as fast. Kansas adds another layer to that picture because the race comes as the fourth event in the 10-race championship run, which means every stage point and every position matters. Larson has the standings lead, but Hamlin stays within striking distance and Logano and Bell remain close enough to change the conversation with one strong afternoon. The order at Kansas reflects that tension. The top four drivers in the standings all line up near the front, and the race gives them a direct chance to answer the pressure that comes with the title chase.
Kansas weekend schedule
Kansas Speedway also stacks the weekend with support events around the Cup race. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series are part of the action, giving the track a busy three-day feel. Truck Series practice and qualifying aired on FS2. ARCA’s Menards 150 aired on FS1 at night. Truck Series racing aired on FS1 the next day. Cup practice and qualifying were scheduled for the morning on TruTV, with practice at 10 a.m. ET and qualifying at 11:10 a.m. ET. The Hollywood Casino 400 is set for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday on USA Network and MRN, with streaming available on the USA App, HBO Max and NASCAR Driver Cam. Rain was forecast for Friday and Saturday at Kansas Speedway, which kept weather in the conversation throughout the weekend and added uncertainty to the schedule around the on-track sessions. Even with that forecast hanging over the track, the weekend still carried a full television and streaming package, and Kansas remained the center of attention for the Cup Series, the Truck Series and ARCA. The schedule gives fans a full look at the national series before the Cup field takes the green, and it places Logano’s pole, Larson’s points lead and the rest of the championship picture in a setting built for a pivotal race.
