AJ Allmendinger leads qualifying at
Bristol for 1st NASCAR Cup pole in 10 years
[September 13, 2025]
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — AJ Allmendinger upstaged the NASCAR Cup
Series playoff drivers at Bristol Motor Speedway, capturing the pole
for Saturday night’s first-round cutoff race on the 0.533-mile oval.
The Kaulig Racing driver qualified first for the first time in 10
years, turning a 15.117-second lap (126.930 mph) on Friday in his
No. 16 Chevrolet. With his fifth career pole in a Cup race and first
since August 2015 at Watkins Glen, the 43-year-old Allmendinger
became the oldest driver to win a pole at Bristol since Mark Martin,
who was 50 in 2009.
“To get a pole at Bristol, that's pretty awesome,” said Allmendinger,
whose previous pole on an oval was at Kansas in April 2012.
“Hopefully, we can do that for 500 laps. I know it’s Friday night
qualifying and doesn’t pay any points or money, but it’s small
victories like this for our race team that’s continually trying to
grow. Days like today are enjoyable and give me confidence because I
feel like I can still do it. It proves I can be here.”
Ryan Blaney will start second after missing the pole by 0.003
seconds in his No. 12 Ford, but the Team Penske driver is in solid
position to gain the 15 points needed to clinch a spot in the second
round from his fourth front-row start this season.
“I think our race car is really good over the long haul and just
looking forward to (Saturday) night,” Blaney said. “Overall proud of
the effort and to be that close to the pole, it’s a good day.”
Teammate Austin Cindric qualified third, followed by Ty Gibbs and
Kyle Larson, who is aiming for his third consecutive victory at
Bristol.
Cindric is ranked 12th in the standings and 11 points above the
cutline heading into the 500-lap race that will eliminate four of 16
drivers from the playoffs.
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AJ Allmendinger drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at World
Wide Technology Raceway, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Madison, Ill. (AP
Photo/Connor Hamilton)
“It’s the first box checked, but nothing is
guaranteed from here,” Cindric said. “I feel like we’ve done our job
for Friday. This sets us up well to try and continue to control our
destiny for the end of the race.”
Playoff drivers rounded out the rest of the top 10 in qualifying
with Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Bubba Wallace, Josh Berry and
Christopher Bell.
The starting positions of the other playoff drivers were: Ross
Chastain 13th, Tyler Reddick 14th, Alex Bowman 15th, Chase Elliott
16th, Joey Logano 22nd, Austin Dillon 23rd and Shane van Gisbergen
28th.
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