NASCAR Richmond 2017 qualifying results: Matt Kenseth wins Toyota Owners 400 pole

Matt Kenseth knew Richmond International Raceway represented an ideal place to turn around a lackluster start to his season, promised the Joe Gibbs Racing driver fulfilled during qualifying on Friday.

Speeding to the pole for Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 (2 p.m. ET, FOX), Kenseth circled the 0.75-mile Virginia oval with an average speed of 121.076 mph during the decisive third round. Ryan Blaney qualified second, followed by Martin Truex Jr., Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Joey Logano, who posted the fastest time in the first and second rounds.

Kenseth has had an uncharacteristically uneven start to the 2017 season. Although he has four top-10 finishes in eight races, he’s also had three finishes of 36th or worse, not led a single lap and ranks 20th in points entering Richmond.

“We just haven’t been up front,” Kenseth said. “… Last week was the first week I actually looked at [the points] after the race because I saw we were still like 20th in points. ‘How are we 20th in points?’”

But if there is a good track for Kenseth to rebound, Richmond would be it. The 2003 Monster Energy Cup Series champion is a two-time winner here, the most recent coming in the 2015 fall race where he led 352 of a possible 400 laps. Overall, JGR drivers have won the past three Richmond races.

“Hopefully this week we can start up front, stay up front and hopefully collect some of the stage points,” Kenseth said. “But most importantly, we’re in the mix for a win at the end of the day.”

For Blaney, he’s now qualified second three times in 2017, and the second-year driver continues to pursue his first career pole and eligibility in the exhibition The Clash that opens each season at Daytona International Speedway.

“That is something to be proud of, that is a lot of second starts now,” Blaney said. “I really want to race the Clash at Daytona. That is my biggest thing right now, it is upsetting me that we can’t get a pole.”

Completing the top-10 qualifiers were Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch — who leads all active drivers with four Richmond wins — Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, and Jamie McMurray. Rookie Daniel Suarez will start 11th, with Dale Earnhardt Jr, who announced Tuesday he will retire from full-time competition at the end of the season, posted the 12th-fastest speed.

Defending series champion Jimmie Johnson will seek a third consecutive win from the 17th position. He won April 9 at Texas Motor Speedway and a week ago at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“Qualifying is not my strong suit,” Johnson said. “Let’s line them up and race and I will be just fine.”

All 38 drivers entered will start Sunday’s race.