Food City 500 Starting Lineup: Alex Bowman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Kyle Larson Ready to Race

The 2025 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway promises to be a thrilling showdown. Alex Bowman will start from the pole, but the field is stacked with strong contenders, including Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who will start alongside him, and Kyle Larson, who is always a threat at short tracks. With a mix of veterans and rising stars, this race is shaping up to be full of intense battles. Who will come out on top?

Key Highlights

• Alex Bowman dedicates his pole to Jon Edwards, honoring a team member’s legacy at Hendrick Motorsports.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. secures a strong second-place start, marking his first front-row start since 2022.
• Kyle Larson starts third, ready to challenge for victory with his impressive short track skills.
• Kyle Busch struggles in qualifying, spinning out, and starting 15th after a disappointing run.
• Carson Hocevar and AJ Allmendinger impress with strong qualifying performances, securing spots inside the top ten.

Alex Bowman Honors a Teammate While Setting the Pace

For Alex Bowman, Saturday was more than just about speed. The Hendrick Motorsports driver earned his second consecutive pole at Bristol and the seventh of his career, but he dedicated the moment to Jon Edwards, a longtime HMS team member who passed away earlier in the week.

“Yeah, it feels really good,” Bowman said after his run. “Honestly, I’m just excited about a tire management race, but definitely want to dedicate this to Jon Edwards… He was probably my favorite person at HMS.”

Bowman was the tenth driver to take the track during qualifying, and his lap held up against some of the best in the series. He credited the 48 team for their strong performance and acknowledged how tricky Sunday’s race will be with tire wear playing a major role.

“It’s gonna be tricky for sure,” he added. “Knowing where you want your brake bias to go and managing that from the front isn’t easy. You don’t have anyone in front of you, and it’s easy to overdrive.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Larson Lead the Chase

Joining Bowman on the front row is Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who put together one of his best qualifying efforts in recent memory. Driving for HYAK Motorsports, Stenhouse turned a lap of 14.925 seconds. This marks his first front-row start since 2022 at Auto Club Speedway.

“It’s a good feeling to be back up here,” Stenhouse said. “The team gave me a great car, and we were able to make the most of it.”

Right behind them is Bowman’s teammate, Kyle Larson. The 2021 Cup champion will start third after clocking in at 14.931 seconds. He will be a major threat on race day, especially with how dominant he’s been at short tracks in recent years.

Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney round out the top five, continuing their strong form this season. Hamlin, representing Joe Gibbs Racing, ran a 14.937, while Blaney’s Team Penske Ford was just a few ticks behind at 14.955.

Big Names Have Trouble, While Others Rise

The qualifying session wasn’t smooth for everyone. Kyle Busch, who drives for Richard Childress Racing, spun during his second qualifying lap while pushing for more speed. Just minutes later, Joey Logano lost control and slapped the wall with the right rear of his Team Penske Ford. He will start a disappointing 38th after a lap of 16.275 seconds, nearly 1.4 seconds off the pole time.

Other notable names who struggled include Ross Chastain (35th), William Byron (26th), and Chase Elliott (20th). All will have work to do in Sunday’s 500-lap showdown.

On the other hand, several underdogs made the most of the session. Carson Hocevar and Justin Haley, both representing Spire Motorsports, qualified inside the top ten. AJ Allmendinger also impressed with an eighth-place run in his Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.

Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell continue to show strong pace for Joe Gibbs Racing, securing sixth and seventh respectively. Meanwhile, Jesse Love, a rookie with Richard Childress Racing, qualified a respectable 19th.

The Starting Lineup for the Food City 500

The 2025 Food City 500 is set to be an exciting race, and the starting lineup is packed with talent ready to battle it out on Bristol’s tricky half-mile track. With tire management expected to be a major factor, drivers will need to focus on maintaining their pace while conserving rubber throughout the race. The strategy could make all the difference, as the right decisions on pit stops and tire usage could be the key to victory.

Alex Bowman, who will start from the pole, will have the advantage of controlling the early pace. But he will face stiff competition from second-place qualifier Ricky Stenhouse Jr., as well as fast cars behind him, like Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney. These proven winners will be ready to pounce if Bowman falters. Add in surprise threats like Stenhouse and Ty Gibbs, and it’s clear that no position is safe.

With such a talented and diverse field, Sunday’s race at Bristol promises to be a thrilling test of strategy, skill, and endurance. The Food City 500 begins at 3 p.m. ET, and fans can tune in to the action on Fox Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

News In Brief: Food City 500 Starting Lineup

The 2025 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway is set to be an exciting race with Alex Bowman starting from the pole. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., his closest challenger, will join him on the front row, while Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney follow closely behind. Despite struggles from Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and others, surprise contenders like Carson Hocevar and AJ Allmendinger show promise. With tire management playing a crucial role, the race is expected to be a thrilling test of strategy and endurance. Don’t miss the action at 3 p.m. ET.

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