Qualifying is important each week but can be even more so in a race like Sunday’s, given how quickly cars can go a lap down at a short track like Bristol Motor Speedway.
Interestingly, 27 of the 123 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Bristol Motor Speedway have been won from the pole or first starting position, a winning percentage of 21.95%—the most of any starting position on the grid.
A total of 16 drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Bristol race from the pole, three of which are active this weekend: Brad Keselowski (2020), Denny Hamlin (2019), and Kyle Busch (2018).
A total of 53 drivers have won a pole at Bristol, and seven of the 53 NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway pole winners are entered this weekend, led by Denny Hamlin with four poles.
Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with four pole wins. Kyle Busch has two, and Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Erik Jones and Joey Logano have one each.
Eight drivers have also posted their first NASCAR Cup Series career pole at Bristol Motor Speedway, including two active drivers: Joey Logano (2010) and Erik Jones (2017).
Expect the teams to try to qualify for the top 10 this weekend. 78% of the Cup races at Bristol have been won by drivers starting 10th or better, with 33.3% of the wins coming from the front row. Busch Light Pole Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, at 5 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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