Fansided

AJ Allmendinger wins Sonoma pole: Complete starting grid

By Charles Rahrig V

Aug 9, 2014; Watkins Glen, NY, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger (47) during practice for the Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2014; Watkins Glen, NY, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger (47) during practice for the Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

AJ Allmendinger will be in the pole position when the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma begins on Sunday.

Last season, AJ Allmendinger got one of the last spots in “The Chase” thanks to a win at Watkins Glen, a road course. Now he has a shot at getting in again as he dominated qualifying at Sonoma Raceway for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350.

In the first round of qualifying, Allmendinger and Kyle Larson were the two fastest cars on the track, with both drivers obliterating the previous track records. In the final round, Allmendinger was able to keep a fast pace like round one, and will now sit on the pole when the race begins Sunday.

It’s Allmendinger’s third pole of the season, and if he’s going to have a shot at making it in, he’s going to need a win as points likely won’t help him get in.

Next, to Allmendinger, is perhaps the hottest driver on the track at the moment, Kurt Busch. After winning a couple weeks ago at Michigan, Busch was the second fastest on the track and will start outside when the race gets underway.

Sonoma every year has drivers that may be better suited for road courses run toward the top. If qualifying is any indication, then Tony Stewart, Casey Mears and David Ragan will have a shot on Sunday, as all will start in the top-10.

Road races always provide the unpredictable, and this week should be no different, here is the complete starting grid for Sunday’s race.

Toyota/Save Mart 350 Starting Grid:

1AJ Allmendinger
2Kurt Busch
3Matt Kenseth
4Kyle Larson
5Jeff Gordon
6Clint Bowyer
7Tony Stewart
8Casey Mears
9David Ragan
10Brad Keselowski
11Kyle Busch
12Martin Truex Jr.
13Jimmie Johnson
14Carl Edwards
15Denny Hamlin
16Ryan Newman
17Kevin Harvick
18Jamie McMurray
19Joey Logano
20Dale Earnhardt Jr.
21Danica Patrick
22Greg Biffle
23Michael McDowell
24Sam Hornish Jr.
25Aric Almirola
26Kasey Kahne
27Justin Allgaier
28David Gilliland
29Cole Whitt
30Matt DiBenedetto
31Trevor Bayne
32Paul Menard
33Boris Said
34J.J. Yeley
35Justin Marks
36Alex Kennedy
37Austin Dillon
38Josh Wise
39Landon Cassill
40Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
41Alex Bowman
42Michael Annett
43Jeb Burton

Will Allmendinger be able to back his way into competing for a Sprint Cup Championship with another road win? Or will someone else rise up and pick up their first win of the season?

More from FanSided

Home/NASCAR