On a warm Sunday night in Wilkes County, North Carolina, Christopher Bell added a career-defining moment to his NASCAR résumé. With a late-race surge and a bold tire strategy, Bell captured his first All-Star Race victory at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway—earning a cool $1 million in the process.
The non-points exhibition race delivered on drama, strategy, and intensity, culminating in a thrilling final 10 laps that saw Bell overtake Joey Logano and hold off the field to cross the finish line first in front of a roaring crowd.
Late-Race Strategy Pays Off for Bell
The turning point of the race came on lap 217, when NASCAR threw the Promoter’s Caution—a new wrinkle added to spice up the closing laps of this year’s All-Star format. The yellow flag flew with 33 laps remaining, and it was 1996 All-Star winner Michael Waltrip who waved the flag from the flagstand.
At the time, Joey Logano had been in control of the race, leading over half the laps and dominating in clean air. He stayed out under caution, along with Ryan Blaney. Meanwhile, Bell and several others headed to pit road. Bell’s crew at Joe Gibbs Racing executed a flawless two-tire stop, giving him track position to attack on the restart.
It didn’t take long for Bell to slice through the traffic. With 10 laps remaining, he powered past Logano—who struggled on older tires—and never looked back.
“That right there is absolutely incredible,” Bell said on the frontstretch, standing beside his No. 20 Toyota. “North Wilkesboro, best short track on the schedule. This team… man, they’re the best. I just drive it, they’re the real reason I’m standing here.”
Joey Logano Left Frustrated After Dominant Night
Joey Logano may have led 139 of 250 laps, but the Connecticut native left North Wilkesboro with a sour taste. After finishing second, he didn’t hide his frustration with both the Promoter’s Caution and how Bell raced him in the closing laps.
“We had the fastest car. The Shell Pennzoil Mustang was so fast,” Logano said. “I felt like we had it, but the caution changed everything. The 20 [Bell] got a great restart and just blew by guys. When he got to me, he ran me up into the wall. I had no shot after that.”
Logano admitted he would have retaliated if given the chance but never got the opportunity.
“If I could have gotten to him, he was going around after a move like that. But I just couldn’t get back to him. The tires made the difference.” – Logano
Despite his disappointment, Logano still showed his strength on short tracks and solidified himself as a threat heading into the summer stretch of the season.
Christopher Bell WINS the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway! #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/XQgo4rFFJA
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 19, 2025
Chastain, Bowman and Elliott Round Out Top Five
While the final battle was mostly between Bell and Logano, Ross Chastain tried to sneak into the mix late but couldn’t quite close the gap. He settled for third in his No. 1 Chevrolet, followed by Alex Bowman in fourth and Chase Elliott in fifth.
Brad Keselowski, who started on the pole after a strong performance in qualifying and heat races, led 62 of the first 63 laps. However, his night ended early after a crash on lap 177 sent him into the wall in turns 3 and 4. Keselowski was running inside the top five before the incident.
Another key element in this year’s All-Star Race was the Manufacturer Showdown, which featured five drivers each from Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota. Thanks to Bell’s win and a strong overall effort, Chevrolet walked away with the inaugural Manufacturer crown, placing five drivers inside the top eight.
Full Race Results: 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race
Carson Hocevar, who earned his way into the race by winning the All-Star Open, finished a respectable 11th. Noah Gragson, voted in by the fans, came home in 13th place.
| Pos. | Car # | Driver |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano |
| 3 | 1 | Ross Chastain |
| 4 | 48 | Alex Bowman |
| 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott |
| 6 | 24 | William Byron |
| 7 | 45 | Tyler Reddick |
| 8 | 8 | Kyle Busch |
| 9 | 19 | Chase Briscoe |
| 10 | 17 | Chris Buescher |
| 11 | 77 | Carson Hocevar |
| 12 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 13 | 4 | Noah Gragson |
| 14 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 15 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
| 16 | 12 | Ryan Blaney |
| 17 | 21 | Josh Berry |
| 18 | 2 | Austin Cindric |
| 19 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek |
| 20 | 51 | Harrison Burton |
| 21 | 5 | Kyle Larson |
| 22 | 6 | Brad Keselowski |
| 23 | 99 | Daniel Suarez |
Coca-Cola 600 Up Next for NASCAR Cup Series
With the All-Star weekend now in the books, teams shift their focus to one of the biggest races of the season—the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Known as NASCAR’s ultimate test of endurance, the 600-mile race kicks off at 6 p.m. ET next Sunday.
Coverage will be available on Prime Video, Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. With momentum on his side, Christopher Bell heads to Charlotte looking to turn his All-Star bonus into points-paying success.
News in Brief: Full 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race Results
Christopher Bell’s win in the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race capped off a thrilling night at North Wilkesboro. With smart strategy, a quick pit stop, and bold moves, Bell surged past Joey Logano to claim the $1 million prize. Logano’s frustration highlighted the unpredictability of the Promoter’s Caution, which changed the race’s outcome. Bell credited his team for the win, reminding fans how vital teamwork is. As the series heads to the Coca-Cola 600, Bell now carries serious momentum into Charlotte.
ALSO READ: NASCAR All-Star Race Starting Lineup Set After Heat Races at North Wilkesboro
