BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Qualifying in the first half of a 39-driver field, AJ Allmendinger stole the spotlight from theE NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contenders who followed him around Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday afternoon.

Allmendinger toured the 0.533-mile concrete short track in 15.117 seconds (126.930 mph) to earn the top starting spot for Saturday's Bass Pro Shops Night Race, the Round of 16 elimination event.

The lap held up against an onslaught of Playoff drivers. Ryan Blaney (126.905 mph) came closest with a lap just 0.003 seconds slower than Allmendinger's. Austin Cindric, just 11 points above the current elimination line for the Round of 12, will start third after a lap at 126.804 mph, far better than his average Bristol starting spot of 21.4.

The Busch Light Pole Award was Allmen

See Full Page