Bell Outduels Logano in Thrilling NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro

Fireworks illuminated the night sky above North Wilkesboro Speedway, matching the drama that unfolded on the track as Christopher Bell captured his first NASCAR All-Star Race victory on Sunday night.

Bell’s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota emerged victorious after a heart-pounding battle with defending All-Star champion Joey Logano in the closing laps of the exhibition event at the historic 0.625-mile short track. The win earned Bell the coveted $1 million prize and marked the first All-Star victory for Toyota since Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in 2017.

“North Wilkesboro, how about that one?” Bell shouted after climbing from his car with smoke still lingering from his celebratory burnout. “That right there is absolutely incredible. North Wilkesboro, best short track on the schedule.”

The pivotal moment of the 250-lap event came during the controversial promoter’s caution, signaled by unofficial flagman Michael Waltrip on lap 215. The caution, a new wrinkle introduced by Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith, forced teams into critical strategy decisions.

Logano, who had dominated the race to that point by leading 139 laps, elected to stay out under the caution. Meanwhile, Bell opted for fresh right-side tires, restarting sixth when the race resumed on lap 223.

The tire advantage proved decisive. Bell quickly moved through the field, passing Ross Chastain for second place on lap 227 before setting his sights on Logano. What followed was an intense battle between two champions that had the capacity crowd on their feet.

Bell relentlessly pursued Logano before pulling alongside him on lap 241. In a dramatic move, Bell drifted toward the wall, taking Logano with him, and completed the decisive pass. Bell maintained his advantage over the final nine laps to secure the victory with a margin of 0.744 seconds.

“Man, that was an amazing race,” Bell said. “There were so many guys up there racing for the lead. We saw two-wide, three-wide for the lead. It’s just a pleasure to race here, and especially whenever you get to drive this Mobil 1 Toyota Camry.”

Bell acknowledged the aggressive nature of his winning pass: “He did a great job of trying to keep me behind him, and I knew that once I got that run off Turn 4, it was like alright, I’m going to have to be a little more aggressive and kind of leaned on him and got him out of position.”

For Logano, who led 199 of 200 laps in last year’s All-Star Race victory at North Wilkesboro, the promoter’s caution and subsequent tire disadvantage proved costly in his bid to win a second consecutive All-Star Race and third overall.

“I’m [mad] right now,” an emotional Logano said after the race. “Just dang it, we had the fastest car. The Shell-Pennzoil Mustang was so fast.”

The Team Penske driver didn’t hold back his frustration about the promoter’s caution that changed the complexion of the race. “I’m all about no gimmicks with the caution. I am all about that. I’m a little… me and Marcus Smith aren’t seeing eye to eye right now, OK? I’ve got to have a word with him.”

Despite his best efforts to defend against Bell’s fresher tires, Logano couldn’t maintain the lead in the closing laps.

“I did all I could do to hold him off, and he got under me and released the brake and gave me no option. Kind of just ran me up into the wall,” Logano explained. “Just frustrated after you lead so many laps and the car is so fast and you don’t win, it hurts quite a bit.”

The financial implications added to Logano’s disappointment, as second place pays substantially less than the winner’s million-dollar prize.

Ross Chastain claimed the third position at the finish on the same tire strategy as Logano. Hendrick Motorsports placed three drivers in the top six, with Alex Bowman finishing fourth, followed by Chase Elliott and William Byron.

Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Chase Briscoe, and Chris Buescher completed the top 10.

Kyle Larson, who had qualified 21st for the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday, made his first laps in the No. 5 Chevrolet on Sunday night. After a two-tire stop on lap 178, he was running third before hitting the wall on lap 214, ultimately finishing 21st and three laps down.

Bell’s triumph capped off an exciting weekend of racing at the recently revitalized North Wilkesboro Speedway, which continues to deliver memorable moments since returning to the NASCAR schedule. For Bell, the victory adds another prestigious achievement to his growing resume and puts him in elite company as an All-Star Race winner.

Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images