Kansas qualifying: Leffler's maiden pole

Leffler was the 14th man out round the 1.5-mile tri-oval and had to sit and wait while the remainder of the 46-strong field tried to beat his lap of 30.595s.

However, the 26-year-old need not have worried as his time was good enough to bag the Dodge driver a place at the front of Sunday's starting grid ahead of championship leader Jeff Gordon in second place.

"I didn't have a very big smile there until the very end," said Leffler. "There were some good cars at the end. Stacy Compton and Johnny Benson really went for it and Ryan Newman is always fast. It's gonna pump us up and we're looking forward to Sunday."

Gordon was fastest during practice, but he was unable to carry his pace over into qualifying and the Chevrolet man had to settle for second place in a sea of Dodges.

"I really wanted it on the first lap," said Gordon. "When I went into Turn 3 coming to get the green, I didn't have the stick. I drifted up and didn't have the momentum I needed, so I had to take a second lap. I was surprised the first lap was better than the second, but you have to put together the whole package. Jason did it and that's why they're on the pole."

Bill Elliott finished in third place, closely followed by Stacey Compton and Casey Atwood to make it four Dodges in the top five. Johnny Benson put his MBV Motorsports Pontiac in sixth.

Tony Stewart was the highest placed of Gordon's championship rivals in seventh place. The Joe Gibbs racing ace was seventh and he lies third in the standings. Ricky Rudd, who is second to Gordon, finished just one place further back in eighth.

"It's certainly great to be on the pole," concluded Leffler. "We get in the Bud Shootout next year. That's a short race and that's what I'm used to. It's just an 'elbows up and go for it' kind of race and I'm looking forward to it."

As for Sunday, the young rookie will certainly have his work cut out keeping the Winston Cup's leading lights behind him...

For full qualifying results, click here.