Christopher Bell beats Joey Logano
in action-packed NASCAR All-Star Race
[May 19, 2025]
By NATE RYAN
Christopher Bell loves North Wilkesboro Speedway, and Joey Logano
hates the “Promoter’s Caution.”
Those were the main takeaways from the top two finishers in an
action-packed NASCAR All-Star Race at the 0.625-mile oval in North
Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
In a slam-bang affair that set a record for lead changes, Bell beat
Logano by 0.829 seconds to earn his first All-Star Race victory.
Bell, who won three consecutive Cup Series races earlier this season
but had a previous best All-Star finish of 10th, delivered the third
All-Star Race win for Joe Gibbs Racing.
“That right there is absolutely incredible,” Bell said. “North
Wilkesboro, best short track on the schedule.”
He also is a fan of Marcus Smith, the president and CEO of Speedway
Motorsports that owns North Wilkesboro Speedway. In a new All-Star
Race wrinkle, Smith was allowed to choose when to throw a “
Promoter’s Caution ” that would bunch the field for a late restart.
Smith sent two-time Daytona 500 winner and Fox Sports personality
Michael Waltrip to the flag stand to display the random yellow flag
on Lap 217 with Logano leading by about a half-second over Bell.
Logano, who was trying to win his second consecutive All-Star Race,
elected to stay on track rather than pit during the caution, and the
decision proved costly. Bell pitted for two fresh tires, restarted
in sixth and needed only five laps to catch Logano. After a battle
for first that lasted a dozen laps, Bell took the lead for good on
Lap 241 of 250.
“I’m pissed off right now,” said Logano, who led a race-high 139
laps. “Just dang it, we had the fastest car. I’m trying to choose my
words correctly on the caution situation. Obviously, I got bit by
it, so I am the one frustrated.”
It was a stark turnaround for the defending Cup Series champion, who
recently said he supported the “Promoter’s Caution” because “the
All-Star Race presents the opportunity to try things outside of the
box.” But he was questioning its validity after Sunday’s race.
“Yeah, I’m all about no gimmicks with the caution,” Logano said. “I
am all about that. Me and Marcus Smith aren’t seeing eye to eye
right now, okay? I’ve got to have a word with him.”
Ross Chastain finished third, followed by Alex Bowman and Chase
Elliott.
The “Promoter’s Caution” was introduced to guarantee an exciting
finish, but the All-Star Race hardly needed much help this year.
After lackluster showings in the first two outings, the All-Star
Race delivered much more action in its third year at North
Wilkesboro Speedway. There were 18 lead changes, breaking the mark
of 13 (set in 2016) for the most in the event’s 41-year history.
Pole-sitter Brad Keselowski and Logano traded the lead twice in the
first 10 laps and often ran side by side for the lead. There were
six leaders and 10 lead changes in the first half of the race, which
topped the total number of leaders (four) and lead changes (five) in
the past two All-Star Races combined.
After leading 62 laps, Keselowski’s bid for his first All-Star Race
victory ended with a crash on Lap 177.
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Christopher Bell celebrates winning the NASCAR All-Star auto race
Sunday, May 18, 2025, in North Wilkesboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott
Kinser)
All-Star Open results
Capitalizing on pit strategy, Carson Hocevar led the final 46 laps
to win the All-Star Open earlier Sunday and advanced into the NASCAR
All-Star Race.
Runner-up John Hunter Nemechek also advanced to the main event by
finishing second in the 100-lap warmup race. Noah Gragson won an
online fan vote to earn the final transfer spot to the All-Star
Race, whose field will included 20 other drivers competing for $1
million.
Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen finished 13th after leading the
first 54 laps on the 0.625-mile oval. The New Zealand native, who is
in his first full Cup Series season after winning three Supercar
championships in Australia, fell from first to sixth on a four-tire
pit stop during the halfway caution.
“I don’t know whether to smile or cry,” said van Gisbergen, who is
ranked 35th in the points standings with one top 10 this season.
“It’s been a dismal year for us, but I feel like we’re getting
better every week. This shows it.”
More money
The All-Star Race winner’s share has been $1 million since the 2003
event, and some drivers have grumbled that an increase for inflation
is well overdue.
“I definitely think it should get raised,” 2023 Cup Series champion
Ryan Blaney said this week. “That’s the only thing about the
All-Star Race I’d probably change. I don’t want to get greedy, but I
think you can raise it to $3 million.”
Bubba Wallace said he’d suggest $5 million but would be good for a
bump to $3 million.
“They’ve got more TV money, so why not,” Wallace said, referring to
NASCAR’s media rights raising to $1.1 billion annually in a deal
starting this year.
Up next
The Cup Series will race May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the
Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season. Christopher Bell won
last year’s race, which was shortened from 600 to 374 miles by rain.
Kyle Larson missed the 2024 race after arriving late because the
Indianapolis 500 was delayed by rain. The Hendrick Motorsports star
again will attempt to become the fifth driver to race the Indy 500
and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
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