Taking advantage of a two-tire stop during the final caution, Christopher Bell passed Joey Logano with nine laps remaining to win the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
With his first win in the exhibition race, Bell delivered the third All-Star Race victory for Joe Gibbs Racing.
His previous best All-Star finish as 10th at Texas Motor Speedway in 2022, and he had struggled the last two years at North Wilkesboro Speedway before leading 28 laps in his victory.
“That right there was absolutely incredible,” Bell said. “North Wilkesboro is the best short track on the schedule.
“I had so much fun last year. I sucked in the race, but racing here last year was so much fun. As this place continues to age, it’s just going to get better and better. Man, that was an amazing race.”
Logano, who was trying to win his second consecutive All-Star Race at the 0.625-mile oval, wasn’t as much of a fan after coming up 0.829 seconds short despite leading a race-high 139 of 250 laps.
The turning point was when Logano elected to stay on track to keep the lead under the “Promoter’s Caution” that randomly was deployed on Lap 217. Bell pitted for two tires during that final caution and restarted sixth behind five drivers who stayed on track.
He 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.”
Logano recently had been supportive of the “Promoter’s Caution” that allowed track owner Marcus Smith the option of randomly throwing a yellow flag anytime before Lap 220. But Logano 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.”
The Team Penske star also might like a word with Bell, whom Logano felt nearly went over the line with his winning pass.
“I did all I could do to hold him off and he got under me and released the brake and gave me no option,” Logano said. “Kind of just ran me up into the wall, and if I could’ve got to him, he was going around after a move like that. I just couldn’t get back to him. Just too much to try to make up with the tire deficit.
“Just frustrated after you lead so many laps and the car is so fast and you don’t win. It hurts quite a bit.”
Bell was bemused by Logano’s viewpoint.
“Joey was frustrated?” he asked rhetorically. “That is interesting. I genuinely would not have guessed that. Well, I had got to him a couple times before and he made it very difficult on me, as he should. I got my run, and I took the moment, as I should.
“Yeah, I don’t think that I did anything that Joey has not done, and I’ve seen Joey do much worse. We will continue on.”
Ross Chastain finished third, followed by Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott.
All-Star Race results
1. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
2. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
3. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Cheverolet
4. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
5. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
6. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
7. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
8. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
9. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
10. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
11. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
12. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
13. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
14. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
16. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
17. Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
18. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
19. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
20. Harrison Burton, No. 51 Ford
21. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
22. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
23. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
