AJ Allmendinger secured the NASCAR pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday night, marking his first Cup Series pole in nearly a decade. The No. 16 Chevrolet team will start on the inside of the front row for Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race, after Allmendinger edged out Ryan Blaney by 0.003 seconds during qualifying.
Allmendinger’s achievement came after a dramatic moment where he closed his eyes as Denny Hamlin completed his laps, uncertain of his own position. His fastest lap clocked in at 15.117 seconds, ending a 225-race gap since his previous pole at Watkins Glen in 2015. This milestone highlights a significant moment for Allmendinger and Kaulig Racing, who are continuing to build momentum this season.
AJ Allmendinger’s Reaction and Impact on Kaulig Racing
Reflecting on the qualifying success, Allmendinger expressed amusement at his late-career pole, joking,
“Every old dog has his day, or something like that,”
followed by,
“To get a pole at Bristol? That’s pretty awesome.”
Despite being ranked 21st in the drivers’ standings as a non-playoff contender, Allmendinger recognized the importance of this achievement for his team.
He emphasized the challenges faced by smaller teams in the Cup Series, stating,
“This Cup series is tough, especially when you’re a smaller team trying to grow,”
adding,
“Little victories like this means a lot to us.”
This pole position not only boosts team morale but also underlines Kaulig Racing’s rising competitiveness in a demanding field.
Earlier in the season, Allmendinger finished ninth at the spring race held at the 0.533-mile Bristol oval, showing consistent performance on this high-banked track.
Notable Qualifying Performances and Team Challenges
After securing back-to-back poles at Bristol in previous events, Alex Bowman needed to improve his position this weekend. Despite starting 15th, Bowman and his No. 48 Chevrolet team are preparing for the Round of 16 finale while facing a 35-point deficit below the cutoff. The team also adapts to an almost entirely new pit crew, adding complexity to their challenge.
Ryan Blaney and Justin Haley led practice times with laps at 15.307 seconds, just narrowly ahead of Carson Hocevar. These times set the tone for the highly competitive qualifying session where 16 drivers compete intensely for their playoff survival.
Kyle Larson’s Dominance at Bristol and Passion for the Night Race
Kyle Larson has maintained exceptional performance at Bristol, having led 87 percent of the laps in his last two races at the track. At the recent regular-season stop, he controlled 411 of 500 laps, followed by leading 462 laps during the 2024 postseason start. Larsen’s cumulative 1,762 laps led at Bristol outpaces any other venue in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Only four drivers in Cup history have won three consecutive races at Bristol, a feat Larson aspires to join. He shared his enthusiasm for the event, noting,
“The atmosphere is always up for the (Bristol) Night Race,”
and added,
“The night race just means more to me. It’s not considered a crown jewel, but in my mind, it’s the one I want to win really badly every year.”
Complete Starting Lineup for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race
The full starting order for Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway is as follows:
- 1. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
- 2. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
- 3. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
- 4. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
- 5. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
- 6. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
- 7. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
- 8. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
- 9. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
- 10. Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
- 11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
- 12. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
- 13. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
- 14. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
- 15. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- 16. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
- 17. Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet
- 18. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
- 19. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
- 20. Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
- 21. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
- 22. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
- 23. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 24. Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
- 25. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
- 26. Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford
- 27. Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
- 28. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet
- 29. Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
- 30. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
- 31. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
- 32. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
- 33. Austin Hill, No. 33 Chevrolet
- 34. Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford
- 35. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
- 36. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
- 37. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
- 38. Corey Heim, No. 67 Toyota
- 39. Chad Finchum, No. 66 Ford
Significance of Allmendinger’s Pole and Upcoming Race Outlook
AJ Allmendinger’s return to the pole position after nearly ten years reflects both his perseverance and the growing strength of Kaulig Racing within the NASCAR Cup Series. His narrow victory over Ryan Blaney highlights the intense competition at Bristol Motor Speedway, particularly under the lights of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.
With significant playoff implications for drivers like Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson’s quest for continued dominance, the upcoming race promises to be intense and pivotal. Allmendinger’s pole might serve as a catalyst for further success, while the rest of the field looks to challenge the frontrunners on Bristol’s demanding half-mile track.
