Ryan Blaney Secures Pole at NASCAR Cup Bristol, Overtakes Reddick

Emerson Raymont

Published: April 12, 2026 3:02 AM ET

Ryan Blaney Secures Pole at NASCAR Cup Bristol, Overtakes Reddick

Ryan Blaney achieved a significant milestone by securing the pole position at the NASCAR Cup series event at Bristol Motor Speedway. Driving the No. 12 Team Penske Ford, he clocked an impressive lap time of 15.101 seconds, marking his 13th career pole and his second at this venue.

Qualifying Highlights

During a post-qualifying interview, Blaney expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. He noted that he faced challenges on his first lap but managed to adjust his approach. “Luckily, the rear tires came in better the second lap,” Blaney commented on his driving strategy. He praised the team’s adjustments made during qualifying, emphasizing a strong start to the weekend.

Front Row Competitors

Blaney will share the front row with Tyler Reddick, who currently leads the championship and drives the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota. Chase Briscoe qualified third, while Riley Herbst secured fourth place, achieving his best qualifying result in the Cup series. Ty Gibbs and Ross Chastain rounded out the top five and six, respectively.

Top Ten Qualifiers

1. Ryan Blaney – No. 12 Team Penske Ford
2. Tyler Reddick – No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
3. Chase Briscoe – (Team Not Specified)
4. Riley Herbst – (Team Not Specified)
5. Ty Gibbs – (Team Not Specified)
6. Ross Chastain – (Team Not Specified)
7. Chris Buescher – (Team Not Specified)
8. Kyle Larson – (Team Not Specified)
9. Austin Cindric – (Team Not Specified)
10. Carson Hocevar – (Team Not Specified)

Notable Performances

Herbst led the qualification initially, posting a time of 15.147 seconds, but was succeeded by Briscoe’s faster lap. Reddick, aiming for more speed, took direct action by heating his tires optimally but ultimately fell short against Blaney’s performance. Meanwhile, Alex Bowman made his return after a five-week hiatus due to health issues, qualifying 27th.

In contrast, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, faced a challenging session, finishing in 34th place.

Inspection and Penalties

All 37 cars successfully recorded qualifying times without incident. However, five teams faced penalties in pre-race inspections, resulting in teams losing pit stall selections and having team members ejected.

As excitement builds for the race, Blaney’s performance sets a promising tone, and the competition remains fierce as the event approaches at Bristol Motor Speedway.