AJ Allmendinger earned a surprising pole position for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway, ending a qualifying drought of over ten years. The Kaulig Racing driver posted a lap time of 15.117 seconds at a speed of 126.930 mph, edging out Ryan Blaney from Team Penske, who qualified second.
This achievement represents Allmendinger’s fifth career pole and the second for Kaulig Racing as a team. Given the challenges expected during the race, especially with tire falloff concerns, Allmendinger’s front-row start positions him well to remain competitive among the leading drivers. Notably, Kyle Larson, who won the last two races at the high-banked concrete track, started within the top three in both those outings.
Driver Reflects on His Qualifying Performance and Team Efforts
After qualifying, Allmendinger expressed surprise at his accomplishment, saying he wasn’t entirely sure how he secured the pole but was very proud of the result. He credited the strong performance of his Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet during practice and the effort of his entire team at Kaulig Racing.
“I don’t know, I closed my eyes in both of them. So I’m not really sure. Man, this Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Chevy in practice was pretty good, and this place is so tough to qualify, but the first lap she stuck, and I looked down at the dash and was like, ‘OK, that’s a pretty good lap,’ so I’m going to try for more on the second.” —AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing driver
“Old dog has his day or something like that. Hopefully, we can do that for 500 laps, but I’m super proud of everybody at Kaulig Racing, all the men and women. We’ve been building fast cars all year, and this Cup Series, it’s tough, especially when you’re a smaller team trying to grow. Little victories like this, even though it’s qualifying, mean a lot to us,” —AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing driver
At 43 years old, Allmendinger currently sits 21st in the standings with two top-five finishes this season. He had a strong showing earlier this year at Bristol, finishing ninth after starting in the eighth position.
Potential Expansion Involves Allmendinger and Kaulig Racing’s Truck Series Plans
Kaulig Racing recently announced plans to expand their presence in the NASCAR Truck Series, partnering with RAM for a five-truck operation. When asked if he might compete in the Trucks for Kaulig, Allmendinger responded without hesitation.
“I’ll drive whatever Chris [Rice] and Matt [Kaulig] want me to drive,” —AJ Allmendinger, via X/Taylor Kitchen
Although Allmendinger has participated in 14 Truck Series races, he has yet to secure a win in that division. His success has been more notable in the Xfinity Series, where he has earned 18 wins, 16 of which came driving for Kaulig. In addition, Allmendinger helped Kaulig Racing achieve its first Cup Series victory in 2021 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The driver lineup for Kaulig’s new Truck Series team remains unconfirmed. The team shifted its manufacturer alliance from Chevrolet to RAM just last month, signaling a fresh chapter as they expand their racing ventures.
Implications of Allmendinger’s Pole and What Lies Ahead
AJ Allmendinger’s unexpected pole start at Bristol is a significant milestone for both him and Kaulig Racing, demonstrating the team’s growing competitiveness in the Cup Series despite being a smaller outfit. Given the infamous difficulty of Bristol and concerns over tire performance, this front-row position is critical for Allmendinger’s prospects during Saturday’s race.
Looking forward, the momentum from this qualifying result could provide a boost for the team’s confidence, possibly translating into stronger race finishes. Furthermore, Kaulig Racing’s planned Truck Series expansion, with Allmendinger’s willingness to contribute, highlights their ambitions to build a multi-series presence. The coming weeks will reveal how these developments translate into on-track success.
