A.J. Allmendinger Scores Surprise Bristol Night Race Pole
By David Morgan, Associate Editor
BRISTOL, Tenn. – When Playoff drivers have been all the talk leading into Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol, it was a driver outside of the Playoffs that stole the show in qualifying on Friday evening.
A.J. Allmendinger rocketed to the top of the board in his No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet and held off the gamut of championship eligible drivers to score the pole with a lap of 15.117 seconds around the half-mile concrete bullring.
The pole is the fifth of his NASCAR Cup Series career and first since 2015.
“I know it’s Friday night qualifying and at the end of the day, that doesn’t pay any points or money, but it’s small victories like this for our race team that’s continually trying to grow,” said Allmendinger.
“I’ve been super proud of all the men and women at Kaulig Racing this year. It’s tough in the Cup Series. Sometimes the results don’t show speed that you’re bringing to the racetrack and at a racetrack maybe that we ran 28th at last year, we run 15th this year, things like that.
“So, yeah, days like today are enjoyable and gives me confidence because I feel like I can still do it. And at the end of the day, anybody that knows me knows I’m by far the hardest on myself and I’m always going to be like that. That’s never going to change.
“So, days like today are important to me, as well, because it proves that I can be here.”
Ryan Blaney was the best of the Playoff drivers, clocking in second fastest to join Allmendinger on the front row, matching his result from practice.
“I’m proud of our lap and proud to be starting on the front row,” said Blaney.
“I wish I could have had it back and I’m sure a lot of guys say that. I just got tight in three and four. I feel like my first lap I got through one and two pretty good, and probably got a little greedy into three, a little too high of an arc, a little too much speed and then I tried to jump back to the gas quick and I got tight and I kind of had to burp it for a second.
“I probably lost a little bit there, but, overall, it was a good day. I think our race car is really good, too, over the long haul and I’m just looking forward to tomorrow night. Hopefully, we can run a good 500 laps and keep up with the racetrack and see what we can do.”
Blaney’s Team Penske teammate Austin Cindric, who currently holds the final transfer spot into the next round of the Playoffs with an 11-point advantage over the cut-off line will start from third.
After qualifying, Cindric remained confident that he would be able to manage that gap when it comes to the race on Saturday night.
“The best defense is a good offense,” said Cindric.
“Call me bubble boy, that’s fine. It’s no different than any other day, really. My job is still the same, just the emphasis on doing it well is more, but it doesn’t mean I can try any harder to change the outcome.”
Ty Gibbs and winner of the last two Bristol races, Kyle Larson, will round out the top-five starters.
The remainder of the top-10 went to Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell, and Josh Berry – all Playoff eligible drivers.
Playoff drivers starting outside the top-10 include Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman, and Chase Elliott, who will start from 13th to 16th.
Further back is Joey Logano in 22nd, along with Austin Dillon in 23rd.
Shane van Gisbergen clocked in as the slowest of the Playoff drivers not yet locked into the next round in 28th, with Darlington winner Chase Briscoe bringing up the rear of those in the postseason in 31st.
Justin Haley, who was fastest in practice to start the evening, will start from 17th place on Saturday night.
The Bristol Night Race will start at 7:30 pm ET Saturday on USA Network.
