Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media for Headline Surfer /
TOP: Credit: NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Mobil 1 Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 18, 2025, in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
LEFT: Credit: NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Mobil 1 Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 18, 2025, in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. -- Christopher Bell celebrated his first victory with the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. And he won a million bucks!
Bell battled Joey Logano before taking the lead on lap 241 of 250 for the non-point win.
Bell pulled even with Logano, drifted toward the wall, took Logano, and completed the decisive pass. His winning margin was 0.744 seconds.
“North Wilkesboro, how about that one?” Bell shouted after climbing from his car with the smoke lingering from his celebratory burnout. “That right there is absolutely incredible. North Wilkesboro, best short track on the schedule.”
The victory was the first for a Toyota driver since JGR’s Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in 2017.
Logano, who led 199 of 200 laps in last year’s All-Star Race victory at the historic 0.625-mile short track, led a race-high 139 laps on Sunday, 28 more than Bell, the winner.
The driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford held a comfortable lead when the yellow flag for the promoter’s caution -- a new wrinkle introduced by Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith -- slowed the action, forced a pit stop choice, and bunched the field.
“I’m pissed off right now,” Logano said. “Just dang it, we had the fastest car. The Shell-Pennzoil Mustang was so fast. You get to… I’m trying to choose my words correctly on the caution situation. Obviously, I got bit by it, so I am the one frustrated.
Joey Logano, who led 199 of 200 laps in last year’s All-Star Race victory at the historic 0.625-mile short track, led a race-high 139 laps on Sunday, 28 more than Chritopher Bell, the winner.
The driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford held a comfortable lead when the yellow flag for the promoter’s caution -- a new wrinkle introduced by Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith -- slowed the action, forced a pit stop choice, and bunched the field. “I’m pissed off right now,” Logano said. “Just dang it, we had the fastest car. The Shell-Pennzoil Mustang was so fast. You get to… I’m trying to choose my words correctly on the caution situation. Obviously, I got bit by it, so I am the one frustrated.
Chastain finished third, followed by Hendrick Motorsports drivers Alex Bowman, Elliott, and William Byron. Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Chase Briscoe, and Chris Buescher completed the top 10.
Fresh from Saturday’s 21st-place qualifying effort for the Indianapolis 500, Kyle Larson turned his first laps in the No. 5 Chevrolet on Sunday night. After a two-tire stop on Lap 178, he ran third when he slapped the wall on Lap 214 and finished 21st, three laps down.
Multimedia video
Headline Surfer YouTube download / NASCAR video / Sunday, May 18, 2025 / History is woven into North Wilkesboro's extensive tapestry. The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the legendary track for the 2025 All-Star Race. Christopher Bell takes the checkered flag, and Joey Logano finishes second.
NASCAR Cup Series Race – NASCAR All-Star Race
North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Sunday, May 18, 2025
- (2) Christopher Bell (T), Toyota, 250.
- (4) Joey Logano (F), Ford, 250.
- (3) Ross Chastain (C), Chevrolet, 250.
- (9) Alex Bowman (C), Chevrolet, 250.
- (6) Chase Elliott (C), Chevrolet, 250.
- (5) William Byron (C), Chevrolet, 250.
- (13) Tyler Reddick (T), Toyota, 250.
- (8) Kyle Busch (C), Chevrolet, 250.
- (14) Chase Briscoe (T), Toyota, 250.
- (10) Chris Buescher (F), Ford, 250.
- (21) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 250.
- (20) Denny Hamlin (T), Toyota, 250.
- (23) Noah Gragson, Ford, 250.
- (15) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 250.
- (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 250.
- (7) Ryan Blaney (F), Ford, 250.
- (11) Josh Berry (F), Ford, 250.
- (16) Austin Cindric, Ford, 250.
- (22) John Hunter Nemechek (T), Toyota, 250.
- (18) Harrison Burton, Ford, 250.
- (19) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 247.
- (1) Brad Keselowski (F), Ford, Accident, 176.
- (12) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, Accident, 65.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 95.728 mph.
Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 37 Mins, 56 Secs. Margin of Victory: .829 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 5 for 32 laps.
Lead Changes: 18 among 8 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B. Keselowski (F) 1-5; J. Logano (F) 6; B. Keselowski (F) 7-63; K. Busch (C) 64-65; W. Byron (C) 66-77; J. Logano (F) 78-102; A. Cindric 103; C. Bell (T) 104-119; J. Logano (F) 120; C. Bell (T) 121; J. Logano (F) 122-177; A. Bowman (C) 178; K. Larson 179-182; J. Logano (F) 183; K. Larson 184; J. Logano (F) 185-228; C. Bell (T) 229; J. Logano (F) 230-240; C. Bell (T) 241-250.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Joey Logano (F) 7 times for 139 laps; Brad Keselowski (F) 2 times for 62 laps; Christopher Bell (T) 4 times for 28 laps; William Byron (C) 1 time for 12 laps; Kyle Larson 2 times for 5 laps; Kyle Busch (C) 1 time for 2 laps; Alex Bowman (C) 1 time for 1 lap; Austin Cindric 1 time for 1 lap.
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