Bowman Speeds to Bristol Pole

by Ron Fleshman with John Davison

(Bristol, TN – Apr 12, 2025 – RIS) The two Chevrolets of Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson will lead the NASCAR Cup Series to the green flag from the pole position. Posting top 10 speeds on the final practice leaderboard, the 31-year-old Tucson, Arizona, native went on to lay down a best lap of 14.912 seconds, at 128.675 mph, in his Chevrolet to earn the pole position for tomorrow’s Food City 500.

Bowman’s pole marks his second in the division at “The Last Great Colosseum”, with the Hendrick Motorsports driver also earning the pole in the series’ most recent visit to the Tennessee venue in Sept. 2024.

“I think we’re all much more prepared than we were last spring,” said Bowman, who ran his lap under favorable cloud cover — with the sun coming out shortly after his qualifying attempt and warming the track slightly on an otherwise chilly day.. “I’m excited for a tire management race. It’s going to be a lot of fun. We’ll see what we’ve got.

“We started practice with rubber already on the track from the Xfinity cars, peeled it right up and sawed the tires right off. Yeah, confusing why we’re doing it again when we didn’t do it in the fall.

Kyle Larson (128.511 mph) qualified third, after winning the pole position for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race earlier in the day. Denny Hamlin, winner of the last two Cup events, was fourth in the fastest Toyota at 128.460 mph, and Ryan Blaney topped all other Ford drivers with a fifth-place qualifying lap at 128.305 mph.

Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell claimed the sixth and seventh starting spots, with AJ Allmendinger, Carson Hocevar and Justin Haley claiming eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively.

Kyle Busch was 15th fastest in qualifying, but he spun off Turn 4 on his second lap and flat-spotted his tires. Joey Logano, who qualified immediately after Busch, broke loose off Turn 2 and smacked the outside wall with the right rear of his No. 22 Team Penske Ford. Logano will start 38th on Sunday.

Practice: Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 SUNNYD Chevrolet, 14.981 sec, 128.082 mph, 2, 32, ---, ---
2) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, 15.041, 127.571, 4, 40, -0.060 sec, -0.060 sec
3) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Snap on Ford, 15.092, 127.140, 4, 40, -0.111, -0.051
4) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 15.140, 126.737, 6, 30, -0.159, -0.048
5) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 15.166, 126.520, 3, 35, -0.185, -0.026
6) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Kroger/Oscar Mayer/Rustik Ovens Ford, 15.169, 126.495, 2, 18, -0.188, -0.003
7) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Progressive Toyota, 15.173, 126.461, 4, 41, -0.192, -0.004
8) Kyle Busch, No. 8 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, 15.188, 126.337, 2, 39, -0.207, -0.015
9) John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota, 15.206, 126.187, 5, 33, -0.225, -0.018
10) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 15.214, 126.121, 7, 40, -0.233, -0.008
11) Noah Gragson, No. 4 Rural King Ford, 15.219, 126.079, 3, 37, -0.238, -0.005
12) Justin Haley, No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet, 15.231, 125.980, 2, 41, -0.250, -0.012
13) Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 15.232, 125.972, 3, 22, -0.251, -0.001
14) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 15.242, 125.889, 3, 37, -0.261, -0.010
15) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 15.244, 125.872, 4, 47, -0.263, -0.002
16) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 15.245, 125.864, 4, 35, -0.264, -0.001
17) Michael McDowell, No. 71 Delaware Life Chevrolet, 15.251, 125.815, 3, 23, -0.270, -0.006
18) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 The Beast Toyota, 15.267, 125.683, 4, 35, -0.286, -0.016
19) Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 15.268, 125.675, 3, 39, -0.287, -0.001
20) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet, 15.280, 125.576, 4, 13, -0.299, -0.012
21) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 U.S. Air Force Toyota, 15.291, 125.486, 4, 36, -0.310, -0.011
22) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Rheem Toyota, 15.292, 125.477, 4, 43, -0.311, -0.001
23) Riley Herbst #, No. 35 Lucy Toyota, 15.313, 125.305, 2, 40, -0.332, -0.021
24) Zane Smith, No. 38 Aaron's Lucky Dog Ford, 15.313, 125.305, 3, 21, -0.332, -0.000
25) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chili's Ride the 'Dente Chevrolet, 15.319, 125.256, 5, 33, -0.338, -0.006
26) Erik Jones, No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota, 15.326, 125.199, 2, 30, -0.345, -0.007
27) Corey LaJoie*, No. 01 Schluter Systems Ford, 15.363, 124.897, 3, 18, -0.382, -0.037
28) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Choice Privileges Chevrolet, 15.377, 124.784, 5, 41, -0.396, -0.014
29) Chris Buescher, No. 17 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 15.394, 124.646, 4, 34, -0.413, -0.017
30) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, 15.411, 124.508, 9, 36, -0.430, -0.017
31) Jesse Love*(i), No. 33 C4 Energy Chevrolet, 15.433, 124.331, 4, 31, -0.452, -0.022
32) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Busch Light Flannel Chevrolet, 15.473, 124.010, 4, 36, -0.492, -0.040
33) Ryan Preece, No. 60 Boost by Kroger Ford, 15.487, 123.897, 2, 41, -0.506, -0.014
34) Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 15.534, 123.523, 2, 26, -0.553, -0.047
35) William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet, 15.536, 123.507, 6, 33, -0.555, -0.002
36) Josh Berry, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 15.538, 123.491, 3, 35, -0.557, -0.002
37) Cody Ware, No. 51 Arby's Ford, 15.588, 123.095, 4, 21, -0.607, -0.050
38) Josh Bilicki*(i), No. 66 Manscaped Ford, 15.630, 122.764, 5, 28, -0.649, -0.042
39) Ty Dillon, No. 10 Okuma Chevrolet, 15.697, 122.240, 5, 39, -0.716, -0.067
(*) Must qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points, (#) Rookie

Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average
Pos, Driver, Car, From Lap, To Lap, Avg Speed
1) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 2, 11, 125.704 mph
2) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 SUNNYD Chevrolet, 1, 10, 125.515
3) Noah Gragson, No. 4 Rural King Ford, 2, 11, 124.733
4) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 1, 10, 124.566
5) Justin Haley, No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet, 1, 10, 124.497
6) John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota, 2, 11, 124.453
7) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chili's Ride the 'Dente Chevrolet, 1, 10, 124.428
8) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 2, 11, 124.418
9) Riley Herbst #, No. 35 Lucy Toyota, 1, 10, 123.084
10) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, 3, 12, 123.069
11) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Progressive Toyota, 3, 12, 122.909
12) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 1, 10, 122.883
13) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Snap on Ford, 3, 12, 122.325
14) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 3, 12, 122.254
15) Jesse Love*(i), No. 33 C4 Energy Chevrolet, 2, 11, 121.945
16) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, 3, 12, 121.822
17) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 The Beast Toyota, 3, 12, 121.572
18) Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 3, 12, 121.209
19) William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet, 5, 14, 121.168
20) Josh Bilicki*(i), No. 66 Manscaped Ford, 3, 12, 120.889
21) Zane Smith, No. 38 Aaron's Lucky Dog Ford, 2, 11, 120.548
22) Cody Ware, No. 51 Arby's Ford, 1, 10, 120.382
23) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 6, 15, 120.324
24) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Busch Light Flannel Chevrolet, 3, 12, 120.316
25) Ty Dillon, No. 10 Okuma Chevrolet, 4, 13, 120.212
26) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Choice Privileges Chevrolet, 3, 12, 120.036
27) Josh Berry, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 10, 19, 119.849
28) Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 10, 19, 119.432
29) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Rheem Toyota, 9, 18, 118.283
30) Chris Buescher, No. 17 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 12, 21, 118.151
31) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 U.S. Air Force Toyota, 17, 26, 118.077
32) Kyle Busch, No. 8 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, 15, 24, 117.680
33) Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 8, 17, 117.632
34) Ryan Preece, No. 60 Boost by Kroger Ford, 10, 19, 117.334
Must run 10 consecutive laps

Qualifying: Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 14.912 sec, 128.675 mph, 1, 2, ---, ---
2) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 SUNNYD Chevrolet, 14.925, 128.563, 1, 1, 0.013 sec, 0.013 sec
3) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 14.931, 128.511, 1, 2, 0.019, 0.006
4) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Progressive Toyota, 14.937, 128.460, 1, 1, 0.025, 0.006
5) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, 14.955, 128.305, 2, 2, 0.043, 0.018
6) Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 14.964, 128.228, 1, 2, 0.052, 0.009
7) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Rheem Toyota, 14.969, 128.185, 2, 2, 0.057, 0.005
8) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet, 15.002, 127.903, 1, 1, 0.090, 0.033
9) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chili's Ride the 'Dente Chevrolet, 15.019, 127.758, 1, 2, 0.107, 0.017
10) Justin Haley, No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet, 15.030, 127.665, 1, 2, 0.118, 0.011
11) Josh Berry, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 15.058, 127.427, 1, 2, 0.146, 0.028
12) Ty Dillon, No. 10 Okuma Chevrolet, 15.074, 127.292, 1, 2, 0.162, 0.016
13) Michael McDowell, No. 71 Delaware Life Chevrolet, 15.075, 127.284, 2, 2, 0.163, 0.001
14) Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 15.088, 127.174, 1, 2, 0.176, 0.013
15) Kyle Busch, No. 8 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, 15.097, 127.098, 1, 2, 0.185, 0.009
16) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Kroger/Oscar Mayer/Rustik Ovens Ford, 15.098, 127.090, 1, 2, 0.186, 0.001
17) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 15.099, 127.081, 1, 2, 0.187, 0.001
18) Zane Smith, No. 38 Aaron's Lucky Dog Ford, 15.130, 126.821, 1, 2, 0.218, 0.031
19) Jesse Love*(i), No. 33 C4 Energy Chevrolet, 15.137, 126.762, 1, 2, 0.225, 0.007
20) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 15.138, 126.754, 1, 2, 0.226, 0.001
21) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Snap on Ford, 15.149, 126.662, 1, 2, 0.237, 0.011
22) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 U.S. Air Force Toyota, 15.193, 126.295, 2, 2, 0.281, 0.044
23) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Choice Privileges Chevrolet, 15.204, 126.204, 1, 2, 0.292, 0.011
24) Chris Buescher, No. 17 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 15.246, 125.856, 1, 2, 0.334, 0.042
25) Riley Herbst #, No. 35 Lucy Toyota, 15.247, 125.848, 1, 2, 0.335, 0.001
26) William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet, 15.263, 125.716, 2, 2, 0.351, 0.016
27) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 The Beast Toyota, 15.268, 125.675, 1, 1, 0.356, 0.005
28) Erik Jones, No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota, 15.274, 125.625, 2, 2, 0.362, 0.006
29) Ryan Preece, No. 60 Boost by Kroger Ford, 15.290, 125.494, 2, 2, 0.378, 0.016
30) Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 15.297, 125.436, 2, 2, 0.385, 0.007
31) Noah Gragson, No. 4 Rural King Ford, 15.301, 125.404, 1, 2, 0.389, 0.004
32) John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota, 15.304, 125.379, 2, 2, 0.392, 0.003
33) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 15.322, 125.232, 1, 1, 0.410, 0.018
34) Cody Ware, No. 51 Arby's Ford, 15.441, 124.267, 2, 2, 0.529, 0.119
35) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Busch Light Flannel Chevrolet, 15.448, 124.210, 2, 2, 0.536, 0.007
36) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, 15.569, 123.245, 2, 2, 0.657, 0.121
37) Corey LaJoie*, No. 01 Schluter Systems Ford, 15.641, 122.678, 2, 2, 0.729, 0.072
38) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 16.275, 117.899, 2, 2, 1.363, 0.634
39) Josh Bilicki*(i), No. 66 Manscaped Ford, 16.348, 117.372, 2, 2, 1.436, 0.073
(*) Must qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points, (#) Rookie

Starting Line Up: Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 14.912 sec, 128.675 mph
2) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 SUNNYD Chevrolet, 14.925, 128.563
3) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 14.931, 128.511
4) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Progressive Toyota, 14.937, 128.460
5) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, 14.955, 128.305
6) Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 14.964, 128.228
7) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Rheem Toyota, 14.969, 128.185
8) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet, 15.002, 127.903
9) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chili's Ride the 'Dente Chevrolet, 15.019, 127.758
10) Justin Haley, No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet, 15.030, 127.665
11) Josh Berry, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 15.058, 127.427
12) Ty Dillon, No. 10 Okuma Chevrolet, 15.074, 127.292
13) Michael McDowell, No. 71 Delaware Life Chevrolet, 15.075, 127.284
14) Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 15.088, 127.174
15) Kyle Busch, No. 8 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, 15.097, 127.098
16) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Kroger/Oscar Mayer/Rustik Ovens Ford, 15.098, 127.090
17) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 15.099, 127.081
18) Zane Smith, No. 38 Aaron's Lucky Dog Ford, 15.130, 126.821
19) Jesse Love(i), No. 33 C4 Energy Chevrolet, 15.137, 126.762
20) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 15.138, 126.754
21) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Snap on Ford, 15.149, 126.662
22) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 U.S. Air Force Toyota, 15.193, 126.295
23) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Choice Privileges Chevrolet, 15.204, 126.204
24) Chris Buescher, No. 17 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 15.246, 125.856
25) Riley Herbst #, No. 35 Lucy Toyota, 15.247, 125.848
26) William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet, 15.263, 125.716
27) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 The Beast Toyota, 15.268, 125.675
28) Erik Jones, No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota, 15.274, 125.625
29) Ryan Preece, No. 60 Boost by Kroger Ford, 15.290, 125.494
30) Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 15.297, 125.436
31) Noah Gragson, No. 4 Rural King Ford, 15.301, 125.404
32) John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota, 15.304, 125.379
33) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 15.322, 125.232
34) Cody Ware, No. 51 Arby's Ford, 15.441, 124.267
35) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Busch Light Flannel Chevrolet, 15.448, 124.210
36) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, 15.569, 123.245
37) Corey LaJoie, No. 01 Schluter Systems Ford, 15.641, 122.678
38) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 16.275, 117.899
39) Josh Bilicki(i), No. 66 Manscaped Ford, 16.348, 117.372
(*) Must qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points, (#) Rookie

Track Qualifying Record: Chase Elliott, 04/07/19, 14.568 sec, 131.713 mph

Track Race Record: Kyle Larson, 09/21/24, 2:37:53 sec, 101.277 mph