AJ Allmendinger secured the pole position for the Bristol Night Race, marking his first Cup Series pole since 2015 and the first on an oval track since 2012. This unexpected achievement stunned the NASCAR community and brought renewed attention to the Kaulig Racing No. 16 Chevrolet.
Fans who had been focused on the 16 playoff drivers had to quickly shift their gaze to Allmendinger’s surprising success. NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck highlighted how remarkable this pole was, given the competitive nature of the field. Allmendinger completed a lap of the half-mile Bristol track in 15.117 seconds, reaching a speed of 126.930 mph. This lap narrowly edged out Ryan Blaney by only three thousandths of a second, securing Allmendinger’s fifth career Cup pole overall.
Reflecting on his performance, Allmendinger expressed surprise at the outcome, acknowledging the difficulty of qualifying at Bristol. His car, however, showed strong speed throughout practice sessions and delivered on the first qualifying lap.
“I don’t know, I closed my eyes at a couple points,” he joked after stepping out of the car.
—AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR Driver
Though aware it was just a qualifying session, Allmendinger emphasized the significance of earning a pole at Bristol, a track known for its challenges. He praised the efforts of Kaulig Racing, a smaller team competing against larger organizations in the Cup Series, and noted how moments like this highlight the progress they have made.
At 43 years old, Allmendinger described himself as an “old dog” enjoying one more day in the spotlight, expressing optimism about maintaining this pace throughout the demanding 500-lap race scheduled for Saturday night. Ryan Blaney will join him on the front row after narrowly missing the pole with a time of 15.120 seconds.
AJ Allmendinger Discusses Kaulig Racing’s Future in the Truck Series
Prior to the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington, Allmendinger spoke with the media about Kaulig Racing’s plans to enter the Truck Series. On August 23, RAM announced a collaboration to return to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2026 alongside Kaulig Racing. The announcement took place at Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM, a dealership owned by Daniel Dye’s father in Daytona, Florida.
This upcoming Truck Series venture will involve five trucks, although no drivers have been officially named. When asked if he might drive in the new program, Allmendinger responded enthusiastically.
“I’ll drive whatever Chris [Rice] and Matt [Kaulig] want me to drive.”
—AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR Driver
Speculation from Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, suggests that Daniel Dye and Brenden “Butterbean” Queen could be among those slated for seats in the RAM Truck Series effort. Dye currently competes full-time in Kaulig’s No. 10 car in the Xfinity Series, and Queen is a rising talent linked to potential opportunities within the team.
Kaulig Racing currently fields two full-time Cup Series teams, with Allmendinger in the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Ty Dillon driving the No. 10 Chevrolet. In Xfinity, Daniel Dye and Christian Eckes race full-time for the team as well. Adding the Truck Series would expand Kaulig Racing’s reach across all three of NASCAR’s national series, further solidifying their presence in the sport.
This pole position milestone at Bristol showcases not only Allmendinger’s skill and persistence but also indicates a promising future for Kaulig Racing as they continue to grow their impact across NASCAR’s premier divisions. The team’s success at a challenging track like Bristol could translate into competitive performances in upcoming races and reinforce their ambitions ahead of the Truck Series launch.
