AJ Allmendinger wins Bristol Cup pole after a decade-long wait, taking the top qualifying position for Saturday night’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. The achievement marks a significant return to form for Allmendinger and gives Kaulig Racing only their second career Cup pole.
Allmendinger Breaks Through with Record Lap
Allmendinger secured the pole with a lap reaching 126.930 mph, giving him his first Cup pole since August 2015 at Watkins Glen and his first time starting in the front row at Bristol since March 2012. Kaulig Racing celebrates this as a major milestone, as their previous pole in the Cup series came earlier in their brief history.
“I know it’s Friday night qualifying and at the end of the day it doesn’t pay any points or money,”
—AJ Allmendinger, Driver
“but it’s small victories like this for our race team that’s continually trying to grow. … Days like today are important to me as well because it proves that I can be here.”
—AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Front Row and Key Playoff Positions
Ryan Blaney is set to start alongside Allmendinger in second after posting a 126.905 mph lap. Austin Cindric, fighting to stay in the playoff contention, earned the third qualifying spot with a 126.804 mph lap. For Cindric and his team, focusing on better Bristol results was a priority after stringing together four consecutive starts outside the top 20 at this track.
“Honestly, I think my car is probably the best driving car I’ve had at Bristol with the Next Gen car,”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
“Proud of the guys for making adjustments and we’ve been able to creep up on this place. It’s not been the easiest place for our company.”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
Notable Qualifiers and Playoff Battle
Ty Gibbs will launch from fourth on the grid, while past Bristol winner Kyle Larson, who has dominated the last two events here by leading 873 of 1,000 laps, will start fifth with a 126.670 mph lap. Denny Hamlin, fresh from his World Wide Technology Raceway win, continues his consistent Bristol form by qualifying sixth and securing his 12th straight top-10 start at this venue.
Playoff drivers take eight out of the top ten slots for Saturday’s starting lineup. However, among the drivers currently below the playoff cutline, only Josh Berry managed to break into the top ten, qualifying ninth—a crucial position for Berry as he needs a victory to advance. Other drivers facing elimination include Austin Dillon (starting 23rd, 11 points behind), Shane van Gisbergen (28th, 15 points behind), and Alex Bowman (15th, 35 points behind the cutline).
What’s Next for Fans and Drivers
This Saturday’s Bristol Cup race, airing on USA Network with pre-race coverage at 7 p.m. ET, promises intense battles as playoff hopes hang in the balance. With major names like AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, Ty Gibbs, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and others looking to capitalize on their strong qualifying positions, the stakes remain high at Bristol Motor Speedway. The outcome will shape the next round of the playoffs, making every lap and every position critical for teams and fans alike.
