AJ Allmendinger Captures His First Bristol Pole in Nearly a Decade
The roar of engines at Bristol Motor Speedway carried extra weight Friday evening as AJ Allmendinger wheeled his No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet to the pole position for Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race. For a driver who’s weathered plenty of storms in his NASCAR journey, this moment had to feel pretty special.
Allmendinger turned a lap at 126.930 mph to claim his fifth career Cup Series pole and his first since Watkins Glen back in 2015. That’s a ten-year gap between poles that was long enough for many things to change in a man’s life and career. But here he was, proving that patience and persistence still matter in this sport.
Allmendinger’s Journey Back to the Front
You’ve got to appreciate what this means for Allmendinger. The California native has been through the wringer over the years, from his early days struggling to find his footing in Cup Series competition to becoming one of the most respected road course aces in the garage. His path hasn’t always been smooth, but moments like Friday remind you why drivers keep grinding through the tough times.
“It’s been a long time coming,” you could imagine Allmendinger thinking as he climbed out of that Chevrolet. Ten years between poles is an eternity in NASCAR years. During that stretch, he’s seen teammates come and go, watched the sport evolve, and experienced both the highs and lows that define a racing career.
Strong Showing from Team Penske
Ryan Blaney made sure Allmendinger wouldn’t have it easy, posting a speed of 126.905 mph to claim the front row alongside the pole winner. For Team Penske, having Blaney start second gives them a solid position heading into what promises to be a wild Saturday night at Bristol.
Austin Cindric continued the strong Penske showing by qualifying third at 126.804 mph. When you’ve got two cars in the top three, that’s the kind of qualifying session that gets crew chiefs excited about race strategy. Bristol’s concrete surface and high banks create opportunities for bold moves, and starting up front certainly helps your chances of being in position to make them.
Playoff Picture Gets Complicated
The playoff standings took some interesting turns during qualifying. Several championship contenders found themselves further back than they’d prefer for Bristol’s unique brand of chaos.
Ross Chastain qualified P13, while Tyler Reddick starts P14. Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott will roll off P15 and P16, respectively. These positions aren’t race-ending by any means, but Bristol does have a way of shuffling the field throughout 500 laps, but nobody wants to start behind the action at a track where track position matters.
Joey Logano’s P22 starting spot and Austin Dillon’s 23rd add another layer of complexity to their playoff scenarios. Shane van Gisbergen will start P28, and Chase Briscoe finds himself way back in P31. For these drivers, Saturday night becomes about damage control and finding ways to move forward through Bristol’s notorious traffic.
Practice Sessions Show Promise
Earlier on Friday, the practice sessions provided teams with valuable data on Goodyear’s softer right-side tire compound. Justin Haley and Ryan Blaney tied for the fastest practice speeds at 125.354 mph, suggesting that multiple manufacturers have speed at Bristol.
The tire compound choice adds an extra strategic element to Saturday’s race. Softer tires typically provide more grip but wear faster, creating opportunities for teams to gamble on pit strategy. Bristol’s concrete surface already challenges tire management, and these softer compounds should make that aspect even more critical.
Looking Ahead to Saturday Night
Allmendinger’s pole position sets up what should be an entertaining Saturday night under Bristol’s lights. The 500-lap distance provides ample time for the field to cycle through different leaders, but starting up front never hurts your chances of being there when it matters most.
For Allmendinger and Kaulig Racing, this pole represents more than just a good qualifying run. It’s a validation of their program’s growth and a reminder that in NASCAR, perseverance often gets rewarded. After ten years between poles, Saturday night gives Allmendinger a chance to show that some things are worth waiting for.
