NASCAR Qualifying Results: Kyle Larson BEATEN to Bristol pole as Cup Series champion suffers….readmore
Alex Bowman Secures Pole Position for 2025 Food City 500 as Larson Falls Short
Qualifying for the 2025 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway concluded with Alex Bowman taking the spotlight, capturing pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race. The Hendrick Motorsports driver delivered a strong performance to earn the top starting spot, outpacing a competitive field in one of the sport’s most demanding short-track events.
Bowman, who has shown flashes of speed throughout the early part of the season, edged out Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the coveted pole. Stenhouse, driving for JTG Daugherty Racing, put together a strong qualifying run to claim the second position on the grid, just fractions of a second behind Bowman.
Despite a dominant showing earlier in the day in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he clinched pole position, Kyle Larson couldn’t replicate the same result in the Cup Series. The 2021 Cup Series champion and Bowman’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate had to settle for third place, falling just short of making it a double-pole day.
Denny Hamlin, fresh off a victory last weekend, continued his solid run of form with a fourth-place qualifying effort. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran will start from the second row alongside Larson. Hamlin’s consistency this season keeps him firmly in the championship conversation, and his strong qualifying performance at Bristol further cements his status as a contender.
Rounding out the top five was Ryan Blaney of Team Penske, who will look to build on his momentum as the season progresses. Blaney’s lap was competitive, though just shy of breaking into the top three.
The qualifying session was closely contested, with lap times separated by mere hundredths of a second on the high-banked concrete oval. The tight margins reflect the intensity and skill level within the Cup Series, especially at a track as unforgiving as Bristol.
Sunday’s race promises high drama and fast-paced action, as drivers tackle one of NASCAR’s most iconic circuits. With Bowman leading the field to the green flag, all eyes will be on whether he can convert his pole into a victory — or if one of his rivals, including Larson or Hamlin, can seize the moment under the lights.
The 2025 Food City 500 is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 13.
