Kansas Speedway is one of ten intermediate to hold NASCAR races.[5] The standard track at Kansas Speedway is a four-turn D-shaped oval track that is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long.[6] The track's turns are banked at fifteen degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is 10.4 degrees. The back stretch, opposite of the front, is at only five degrees.[6] The racetrack has seats for 82,000 spectators.[6]
Kurt Busch (pictured in 2015) won the pole position, after having the fastest time of 30.901 seconds.
Two practice sessions were held before the race on Friday. The first session lasted 80 minutes long, while the second was 90 minutes long.[9]Greg Biffle was quickest with a time of 31.917 seconds in the first session, less than one-tenth of a second faster than Edwards.[10]Kasey Kahne was third, followed by Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Earnhardt Jr. Bobby Labonte was seventh, still within a second of Biffle's time.[10] In the second practice session, Joey Logano was fastest with a time of 31.732 seconds, only one-hundredth of a second quicker than second-placed Gordon.[11]Brian Vickers took third place, ahead of Mark Martin, Paul Menard and Landon Cassill. Kyle Busch only managed 7th place.[11]
Forty-five cars were entered for qualifying, but only forty-three raced because of NASCAR's qualifying procedure.[12] Kurt Busch clinched his 13th pole position during his career, with a time of 30.901 seconds.[13] He was joined on the front row of the grid by Juan Pablo Montoya.[13] Kyle Busch qualified third, Vickers took fourth, and Logano started fifth.[13]Jamie McMurray, Edwards, Martin Truex Jr., Menard, and Harvick rounded out the first ten positions.[13] The two drivers who failed to qualify for the race were Tony Raines and T. J. Bell, who had times of 31.820 and 31.846 seconds.[13]
