SPARTA, Ky. — NASCAR chose practice over qualifying on Friday afternoon at Kentucky Speedway, handing the pole position for Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports) to Kyle Larson.

Qualifying had been scheduled for Friday afternoon, but rain and a leaky track forced NASCAR to change its plan. With a new rules package set to debut Saturday night, NASCAR opted to give teams more practice time (they had just 49 minutes on track after rain hit earlier in the day) and instead cancel qualifying.

That put Larson and defending race winner Brad Keselowski on the front row based on practice speeds, followed by Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.

“We were quick off the truck, which I was really proud of my team for, because we haven’t had any laps in this package,” Larson said. “Was able to lay down a really fast lap. Happy with how the day’s been.”

But the decision also sent three teams home: Ryan Blaney, Michael McDowell and Travis Kvapil. Their DNQs were based on the rule book, which sets the field by qualifying attempts — this despite Blaney being 16th-fastest in practice.

NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said officials determined the revised schedule “based on the interest of safety and in the interest of putting on the best possible event we can here at Kentucky Speedway.”

The drivers who were sent home weren’t happy, though.

“Unreal,” McDowell tweeted after weather sent him home for the second straight week. “Weather is clear and track drying is underway and @NASCAR cancels qualifying again. Let’s just make the rules up as we go. #2Weeks”

“Right there with you bud,” Blaney tweeted.

Larson, who earned his second career Sprint Cup Series pole after qualifying first at Pocono Raceway last August, said he felt for the teams that were being sent home.

“Feel back for the teams who aren’t going to get a chance to qualify,” Larson said, “but it’s nice to get some more practice here in a little bit.”

RACE LINEUP

1. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, owner points.

2. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, owner points.

3. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, owner points.

4. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, owner points.

5. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, owner points.

6. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, owner points.

7. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, owner points.

8. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, owner points.

9. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, owner points.

10. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, owner points.

11. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, owner points.

12. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, owner points.

13. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, owner points.

14. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, owner points.

15. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, owner points.

16. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, owner points.

17. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, owner points.

18. (9) Sam Hornish Jr., Ford, owner points.

19. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, owner points.

20. (19) Carl Edwards, Toyota, owner points.

21. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, owner points.

22. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, owner points.

23. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, owner points.

24. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, owner points.

25. (55) David Ragan, Toyota, owner points.

26. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, owner points.

27. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, owner points.

28. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, owner points.

29. (46) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, Attempts.

30. (15) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, owner points.

31. (7) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, owner points.

32. (51) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, owner points.

33. (35) Cole Whitt, Ford, owner points.

34. (38) David Gilliland, Ford, owner points.

35. (26) Jeb Burton, Toyota, Attempts.

36. (40) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, owner points.

37. (98) Josh Wise, Ford, Attempts.

38. (34) Brett Moffitt, Ford, owner points.

39. (83) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, Attempts.

40. (32) Will Kimmel, Ford, Attempts.

41. (23) J.J. Yeley, Toyota, Attempts.

42. (62) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, Attempts.

43. (33) Alex Kennedy, Chevrolet, owner points.