Alex Bowman earns Bristol Cup pole with record lap

Alex Bowman secured the pole position for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 12, 2025, with a record lap of 14.911 seconds, marking his second pole of the NASCAR Cup Series season. He edged out Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by a narrow margin and expressed excitement for a tire management race, attributing his success to favorable conditions during qualifying. The expected high tire wear during the race adds a strategic element, as drivers will need to manage their tires carefully, a challenge Bowman seems prepared for based on his previous performance. Bowman's victory was also a tribute to Jon Edwards, a respected figure at Hendrick Motorsports who recently passed away. The race, featuring 39 cars, is set for April 13 at 3 p.m. ET, with Bowman aiming to improve on his recent finishes. Completing the top five qualifiers were Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney.