Starting Lineup for NASCAR Race at Bristol, Alex Bowman Fastest Qualifier

“Honestly, I’m just excited that it’s looking like we’re going to have a tire management race,” he continued in anticipation for Sunday’s 500-lap race. “I love that aspect of it.”

To Bowman’s outside will be Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for his first career front row start at The Last Great Colosseum.

Kyle Larson, who is on triple duty this weekend running all three national series, will start third to give Hendrick Motorsports two of the top three spots.

Defending race winner Denny Hamlin will start from fourth with Ryan Blaney rounding out the top five.

Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell will start sixth and seventh, posting the final sub-15 second lap times across the field.

AJ Allmendinger, Carson Hocevar and Justin Haley will all start inside the top 10, respectively.

Jesse Love will make his first career Cup Series appearance with Richard Childress Racing in the No. 33 C4 Energy Chevrolet Camaro, starting from the 19th position.

Riley Herbst was the highest qualifying rookie in 25th. Corey Lajoie will make his third start of his part-time season, and Josh Bilicki will make his first start of his Cup Series season.

Coverage of the Food City 500 can be watched on FS1 starting at 3 p.m. ET.

NASCAR Cup Series Starting Lineup
Food City 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
April 12, 2025

1. 48, Alex Bowman, Ally, Chevrolet, 14.912 seconds

2. 47, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., SUNNYD, Chevrolet, 14.925 sec.

3. 5, Kyle Larson, HendrickCars.com, Chevrolet, 14.931 sec.

4. 11, Denny Hamlin, Progressive, Toyota, 14.937 sec.

5. 12, Ryan Blaney, Menards/Richmond Water Heaters, Ford, 14.955 sec.

6. 54, Ty Gibbs, Monster Energy, Toyota, 14.964 sec.

7. 20, Christopher Bell, Rheem, Toyota, 14.969 sec.

8. 16, AJ Allmendinger, Grizzly Nicotine Pouches, Chevrolet, 15.002 sec.

9. 77, Carson Hocevar, Chili's Ride the 'Dente, Chevrolet, 15.019 sec.

10. 7, Justin Haley, NationsGuard, Chevrolet, 15.030 sec.

11. 21, Josh Berry, Motorcraft/Quick Lane, Ford, 15.058 sec.

12. 10, Ty Dillon, Okuma, Chevrolet, 15.074 sec.

13. 71, Michael McDowell, Delaware Life, Chevrolet, 15.075 sec.

14. 19, Chase Briscoe, Bass Pro Shops, Toyota, 15.088 sec.

15. 8, Kyle Busch, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Chevrolet, 15.097 sec.

16. 6, Brad Keselowski, Kroger/Oscar Mayer/Rustik Ovens, Ford, 15.098 sec.

17. 3, Austin Dillon, Get Bioethanol, Chevrolet, 15.099 sec.

18. 38, Zane Smith, Aaron's Lucky Dog, Ford, 15.130 sec.

19. 33, Jesse Love(i), C4 Energy, Chevrolet, 15.137 sec.

20. 9, Chase Elliott, NAPA Auto Parts, Chevrolet, 15.138 sec.

21. 2, Austin Cindric, Snap on, Ford, 15.149 sec.

22. 23, Bubba Wallace, U.S. Air Force, Toyota, 15.193 sec.

23. 99, Daniel Suarez, Choice Privileges, Chevrolet, 15.204 sec.

24. 17, Chris Buescher, BuildSubmarines.com, Ford, 15.246 sec.

25. 35, Riley Herbst (#), Lucy, Toyota, 15.247 sec.

26. 24, William Byron, Axalta, Chevrolet, 15.263 sec.

27. 45, Tyler Reddick, The Beast, Toyota, 15.268 sec.

28. 43, Erik Jones, AdventHealth Toyota, 15.274 sec.

29. 60, Ryan Preece, Boost by Kroger, Ford, 15.290 sec.

30. 34, Todd Gilliland, Love's Travel Stops, Ford, 15.297 sec.

31. 4, Noah Gragson, Rural King, Ford, 15.301 sec.

32. 42, John Hunter Nemechek, Dollar Tree, Toyota, 15.304 sec.

33. 41, Cole Custer, HaasTooling.com, Ford, 15.322 sec.

34. 51, Cody Ware, Arby's, Ford, 15.441 sec.

35. 1, Ross Chastain, Busch Light Flannel, Chevrolet, 15.448 sec.

36. 88, Shane Van Gisbergen (#), Safety Culture, Chevrolet 15.569 sec.

37. 01, Corey LaJoie, Schluter Systems, Ford 15.641 sec.

38. 22, Joey Logano, Shell Pennzoil, Ford 16.275 sec.

39. 66, Josh Bilicki (i), Manscaped, Ford 16.348 sec.

(i) denotes ineligibility for championship points.
(#) denotes rookie.