Aric Almirola Motors to Bristol Night Race Pole

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BRISTOL, TN – RIS – Aric Almirola, who started the season having a retirement announcement, motored to the pole for Saturday night’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.  Almirola turned a lap of 128.382 mph in his No. 10 Ford to earn his 4th career Busch Pole Award.  Almirola will be joined on the front row by teammate Chase Briscoe (128.193 mph) who was just .022-seocnds behind Almirola for earning his second career pole. This is his first top 10 starting spot in the last 7 races as he enters this weekend 9 points below the cutline.

Alex Bowman starts third in his No. 48 Chevrolet (128.176 mph) for his first top 5 starting spot in 12 Bristol starts. He did qualify 3rd last week in Kansas though. Denny Hamlin was fourth in his No. 11 Toyota (128.159 mph) for his 7th consecutive top 10 starting spot including 4 of the last 6 inside of the top 5. This is just his 2nd top 5 starting spot in the last 7 races on the year though too.

Kyle Larson (127.911 mph) rounded out the top 5 in his No. 5 Chevrolet. He’s had a top 10 starting spot in 7 of the last 8 races including 6 of the 7 in the top 6

Interestingly, Ross Chastain rolls off 14th with Chase Elliott 17th, Joey Logano 20th, William Byron 24th, Austin Dillon 25th, Daniel Suarez 27th and Kyle Busch in 28th.

Also, interesting that the front row finds two teammates – Almirola and Brisco - leading the field to green.  Kevin Harvick starts seventh -another SHR car, and Cole Custer, the fourth member of SHR starts 11th. The race gets underway Tomorrow night, August 17th under the lights.

Practice: 62nd Annual Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota, 15.247 sec, 125.848 mph, 12, 31, ---.---, ---.---
2) Austin Cindric # (P), No. 2 Freightliner Ford, 15.347, 125.028, 21, 32, -0.100, -0.100
3) Joey Logano (P), No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 15.355, 124.963, 17, 47, -0.108, -0.008
4) Kyle Busch (P), No. 18 M&M's Toyota, 15.368, 124.857, 31, 31, -0.121, -0.013
5) AJ Allmendinger(i), No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, 15.377, 124.784, 17, 45, -0.130, -0.009
6) Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Yahoo! Toyota, 15.387, 124.703, 48, 51, -0.140, -0.010
7) Kyle Larson (P), No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 15.388, 124.695, 13, 49, -0.141, -0.001
8) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford, 15.395, 124.638, 17, 49, -0.148, -0.007
9) Cole Custer, No. 41 Autodesk/HaasTooling.com Ford, 15.402, 124.581, 42, 46, -0.155, -0.007
10) Chase Briscoe (P), No. 14 Magical Vacation Planner Ford, 15.402, 124.581, 34, 36, -0.155, -0.000
11) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 15.407, 124.541, 38, 49, -0.160, -0.005
12) Alex Bowman (P), No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 15.419, 124.444, 12, 48, -0.172, -0.012
13) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 12 Menards/Pennzoil Ford, 15.421, 124.428, 9, 51, -0.174, -0.002
14) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Ford BlueOval City Ford, 15.437, 124.299, 15, 57, -0.190, -0.016
15) Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 Busch Light Ford, 15.447, 124.218, 14, 42, -0.200, -0.010
16) William Byron (P), No. 24 Acronis Chevrolet, 15.461, 124.106, 11, 38, -0.214, -0.014
17) Erik Jones, No. 43 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, 15.473, 124.010, 10, 40, -0.226, -0.012
18) Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 15.483, 123.929, 20, 39, -0.236, -0.010
19) Ross Chastain (P), No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 15.520, 123.634, 21, 47, -0.273, -0.037
20) Ty Gibbs(i), No. 23 Monster Energy Toyota, 15.526, 123.586, 26, 51, -0.279, -0.006
21) Chase Elliott (P), No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet, 15.536, 123.507, 56, 57, -0.289, -0.010
22) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Schluter Systems Chevrolet, 15.537, 123.499, 18, 37, -0.290, -0.001
23) Bubba Wallace (P), No. 45 MoneyLion Toyota, 15.539, 123.483, 46, 50, -0.292, -0.002
24) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 15.541, 123.467, 25, 40, -0.294, -0.002
25) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/Thomas' Chevrolet, 15.546, 123.427, 13, 39, -0.299, -0.005
26) JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 World Supercross Championship Ford, 15.558, 123.332, 27, 42, -0.311, -0.012
27) Todd Gilliland #, No. 38 Long John Silver's Ford, 15.560, 123.316, 13, 39, -0.313, -0.002
28) Tyler Reddick (P), No. 8 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, 15.565, 123.277, 23, 49, -0.318, -0.005
29) Cody Ware, No. 51 Nurtec ODT Ford, 15.566, 123.269, 3, 37, -0.319, -0.001
30) Harrison Burton #, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 15.572, 123.221, 15, 42, -0.325, -0.006
31) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 15.576, 123.190, 12, 55, -0.329, -0.004
32) Daniel Suarez (P), No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 15.608, 122.937, 24, 50, -0.361, -0.032
33) Austin Dillon (P), No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet, 15.681, 122.365, 6, 39, -0.434, -0.073
34) Landon Cassill(i), No. 77 Zeigler Auto/LoJack Chevrolet, 15.737, 121.929, 38, 50, -0.490, -0.056
35) Ty Dillon, No. 42 EG3 Technologies Chevrolet, 15.759, 121.759, 12, 28, -0.512, -0.022
36) BJ McLeod(i), No. 78 Down N Dirty Ford, 15.820, 121.290, 10, 11, -0.573, -0.061

Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average
Pos, Driver, Car, From Lap, To Lap, Avg Speed
1) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota, 10, 19, 124.978
2) AJ Allmendinger(i), No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, 15, 24, 124.064
3) Kyle Larson (P), No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 11, 20, 123.992
4) Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Yahoo! Toyota, 39, 48, 123.953
5) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Ford BlueOval City Ford, 10, 19, 123.763
6) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 12 Menards/Pennzoil Ford, 4, 13, 123.736
7) Alex Bowman (P), No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 12, 21, 123.723
8) Joey Logano (P), No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 17, 26, 123.707
9) Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 Busch Light Ford, 13, 22, 123.699
10) Kyle Busch (P), No. 18 M&M's Toyota, 8, 17, 123.646
11) Cole Custer, No. 41 Autodesk/HaasTooling.com Ford, 23, 32, 123.609
12) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 9, 18, 123.502
13) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford, 16, 25, 123.326
14) William Byron (P), No. 24 Acronis Chevrolet, 17, 26, 123.293
15) Chase Elliott (P), No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet, 24, 33, 123.052
16) Erik Jones, No. 43 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, 6, 15, 122.988
17) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Schluter Systems Chevrolet, 10, 19, 122.974
18) Chase Briscoe (P), No. 14 Magical Vacation Planner Ford, 22, 31, 122.929
19) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 11, 20, 122.882
20) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, No. 47 Kroger/Thomas' Chevrolet, 13, 22, 122.769
21) Bubba Wallace (P), No. 45 MoneyLion Toyota, 22, 31, 122.743
22) Ty Gibbs(i), No. 23 Monster Energy Toyota, 36, 45, 122.726
23) Ross Chastain (P), No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 17, 26, 122.518
24) Tyler Reddick (P), No. 8 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, 21, 30, 122.504
25) Harrison Burton #, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 15, 24, 122.376
26) Martin Truex Jr, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 7, 16, 122.362
27) JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 World Supercross Championship Ford, 12, 21, 122.289
28) Todd Gilliland #, No. 38 Long John Silver's Ford, 12, 21, 122.150
29) Daniel Suarez (P), No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 18, 27, 122.130
30) Austin Dillon (P), No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet, 4, 13, 121.900
31) Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 4, 13, 121.614
32) Landon Cassill(i), No. 77 Zeigler Auto/LoJack Chevrolet, 29, 38, 121.280
33) Cody Ware, No. 51 Nurtec ODT Ford, 6, 15, 121.194
34) Austin Cindric # (P), No. 2 Freightliner Ford, 6, 15, 121.190
35) BJ McLeod(i), No. 78 Down N Dirty Ford, 2, 11, 113.663
Must run 10 consecutive laps on the track to be included.

Qualifying Results: 62nd Annual Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway
Round 1A
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Kyle Larson (P), 5, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 15.063 sec, 127.385 mph, 0, 2, 0.000, 0.000
2) Alex Bowman (P), 48, Ally Chevrolet, 15.081, 127.233, 0, 3, 0.018, 0.018
3) Ryan Blaney (P), 12, Menards/Pennzoil Ford, 15.116, 126.938, 0, 3, 0.053, 0.035
4) Aric Almirola, 10, Ford BlueOval City Ford, 15.134, 126.787, 0, 3, 0.071, 0.018
5) Christopher Bell (P), 20, Yahoo! Toyota, 15.140, 126.737, 0, 3, 0.077, 0.006
6) Tyler Reddick (P), 8, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, 15.159, 126.578, 0, 3, 0.096, 0.019
7) Michael McDowell, 34, Love's Travel Stops Ford, 15.176, 126.436, 0, 3, 0.113, 0.017
8) Martin Truex Jr., 19, Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 15.220, 126.071, 0, 3, 0.157, 0.044
9) Chase Elliott (P), 9, Hooters Chevrolet, 15.248, 125.839, 0, 3, 0.185, 0.028
10) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 47, Kroger/Thomas' Chevrolet, 15.379, 124.768, 0, 3, 0.316, 0.131
11) Harrison Burton #, 21, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 15.382, 124.743, 0, 3, 0.319, 0.003
12) Austin Dillon (P), 3, Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet, 15.388, 124.695, 0, 3, 0.325, 0.006
13) Daniel Suarez (P), 99, Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 15.390, 124.678, 0, 3, 0.327, 0.002
14) Todd Gilliland #, 38, Long John Silver's Ford, 15.450, 124.194, 0, 3, 0.387, 0.060
15) Corey LaJoie, 7, Schluter Systems Chevrolet, 15.451, 124.186, 0, 4, 0.388, 0.001
16) Cody Ware, 51, Nurtec ODT Ford, 15.460, 124.114, 0, 3, 0.397, 0.009
17) Ty Dillon, 42, EG3 Technologies Chevrolet, 15.604, 122.968, 0, 3, 0.541, 0.144
18) Landon Cassill(i), 77, Zeigler Auto/LoJack Chevrolet, 15.684, 122.341, 0, 3, 0.621, 0.080

Round 1B
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Chase Briscoe (P), 14, Magical Vacation Planner Ford, 14.944 sec, 128.399 mph, 0, 3, 0.000, 0.000
2) Austin Cindric # (P), 2, Freightliner Ford, 15.000, 127.920, 0, 3, 0.056, 0.056
3) Denny Hamlin (P), 11, FedEx Ground Toyota, 15.012, 127.818, 0, 3, 0.068, 0.012
4) Brad Keselowski, 6, Kohler Generators Ford, 15.038, 127.597, 0, 3, 0.094, 0.026
5) Kevin Harvick (P), 4, Busch Light Ford, 15.044, 127.546, 0, 3, 0.100, 0.006
6) Cole Custer, 41, Autodesk/HaasTooling.com Ford, 15.047, 127.520, 0, 3, 0.103, 0.003
7) Ross Chastain (P), 1, Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 15.051, 127.487, 0, 3, 0.107, 0.004
8) AJ Allmendinger(i), 16, Action Industries Chevrolet, 15.092, 127.140, 0, 3, 0.148, 0.041
9) Bubba Wallace (P), 45, MoneyLion Toyota, 15.096, 127.107, 0, 3, 0.152, 0.004
10) Joey Logano (P), 22, Shell Pennzoil Ford, 15.125, 126.863, 0, 3, 0.181, 0.029
11) William Byron (P), 24, Acronis Chevrolet, 15.153, 126.628, 0, 3, 0.209, 0.028
12) Justin Haley, 31, LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 15.182, 126.387, 0, 3, 0.238, 0.029
13) Chris Buescher, 17, Fastenal Ford, 15.184, 126.370, 0, 3, 0.240, 0.002
14) Kyle Busch (P), 18, M&M's Toyota, 15.188, 126.337, 0, 3, 0.244, 0.004
15) Erik Jones, 43, U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, 15.265, 125.699, 0, 3, 0.321, 0.077
16) Ty Gibbs(i), 23, Monster Energy Toyota, 15.266, 125.691, 0, 3, 0.322, 0.001
17) BJ McLeod(i), 78, Down N Dirty Ford, 15.501, 123.786, 0, 3, 0.557, 0.235
18) JJ Yeley(i), 15, World Supercross Championship Ford, 15.722, 122.046, 0, 3, 0.778, 0.221

Round 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Aric Almirola, 10, Ford BlueOval City Ford, 14.946 sec, 128.382 mph, 2, 3, 0.000, 0.000
2) Chase Briscoe (P), 14, Magical Vacation Planner Ford, 14.968, 128.193, 2, 3, 0.022, 0.022
3) Alex Bowman (P), 48, Ally Chevrolet, 14.970, 128.176, 3, 3, 0.024, 0.002
4) Denny Hamlin (P), 11, FedEx Ground Toyota, 14.972, 128.159, 3, 3, 0.026, 0.002
5) Kyle Larson (P), 5, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 15.001, 127.911, 2, 3, 0.055, 0.029
6) Ryan Blaney (P), 12, Menards/Pennzoil Ford, 15.008, 127.852, 2, 3, 0.062, 0.007
7) Kevin Harvick (P), 4, Busch Light Ford, 15.030, 127.665, 3, 3, 0.084, 0.022
8) Christopher Bell (P), 20, Yahoo! Toyota, 15.057, 127.436, 2, 3, 0.111, 0.027
9) Austin Cindric # (P), 2, Freightliner Ford, 15.078, 127.258, 2, 3, 0.132, 0.021
10) Brad Keselowski, 6, Kohler Generators Ford, 15.083, 127.216, 3, 3, 0.137, 0.005

Starting Line Up: 62nd Annual Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Aric Almirola, 10, Ford BlueOval City Ford, 14.946 sec, 128.382 mph
2) Chase Briscoe (P), 14, Magical Vacation Planner Ford, 14.968, 128.193
3) Alex Bowman (P), 48, Ally Chevrolet, 14.970, 128.176
4) Denny Hamlin (P), 11, FedEx Ground Toyota, 14.972, 128.159
5) Kyle Larson (P), 5, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 15.001, 127.911
6) Ryan Blaney (P), 12, Menards/Pennzoil Ford, 15.008, 127.852
7) Kevin Harvick (P), 4, Busch Light Ford, 15.030, 127.665
8) Christopher Bell (P), 20, Yahoo! Toyota, 15.057, 127.436
9) Austin Cindric # (P), 2, Freightliner Ford, 15.078, 127.258
10) Brad Keselowski, 6, Kohler Generators Ford, 15.083, 127.216
11) Cole Custer, 41, Autodesk/HaasTooling.com Ford, 15.047, 127.520
12) Ross Chastain (P), 1, Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 15.051, 127.487
13) AJ Allmendinger(i), 16, Action Industries Chevrolet, 15.092, 127.140
14) Bubba Wallace (P), 45, MoneyLion Toyota, 15.096, 127.107
15) Joey Logano (P), 22, Shell Pennzoil Ford, 15.125, 126.863
16) William Byron (P), 24, Acronis Chevrolet, 15.153, 126.628
17) Tyler Reddick (P), 8, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, 15.159, 126.578
18) Michael McDowell, 34, Love's Travel Stops Ford, 15.176, 126.436
19) Justin Haley, 31, LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 15.182, 126.387
20) Chris Buescher, 17, Fastenal Ford, 15.184, 126.370
21) Kyle Busch (P), 18, M&M's Toyota, 15.188, 126.337
22) Martin Truex Jr., 19, Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 15.220, 126.071
23) Chase Elliott (P), 9, Hooters Chevrolet, 15.248, 125.839
24) Erik Jones, 43, U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, 15.265, 125.699
25) Ty Gibbs(i), 23, Monster Energy Toyota, 15.266, 125.691
26) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 47, Kroger/Thomas' Chevrolet, 15.379, 124.768
27) Harrison Burton #, 21, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 15.382, 124.743
28) Austin Dillon (P), 3, Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road , 15.388, 124.695
29) Daniel Suarez (P), 99, Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 15.390, 124.678
30) Todd Gilliland #, 38, Long John Silver's Ford, 15.450, 124.194
31) Corey LaJoie, 7, Schluter Systems Chevrolet, 15.451, 124.186
32) Cody Ware, 51, Nurtec ODT Ford, 15.460, 124.114
33) BJ McLeod(i), 78, Down N Dirty Ford, 15.501, 123.786
34) Ty Dillon, 42, EG3 Technologies Chevrolet, 15.604, 122.968
35) Landon Cassill(i), 77, Zeigler Auto/LoJack Chevrolet, 15.684, 122.341
36) JJ Yeley(i), 15, World Supercross Championship Ford, 15.722, 122.046
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs

Track Qualifying Record: Chase Elliott, 04/07/19, 14.568 sec; 131.713 mph
Track Race Record: Charlie Glotzbach, 07/11/71; 2:38:12; 101.074 mph