Making the most of a two-tire cease through the ultimate warning, Christopher Bell handed Joey Logano with 9 laps remaining to win the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Together with his first win within the exhibition race, Bell delivered the third All-Star Race victory for Joe Gibbs Racing.
His earlier greatest All-Star end as tenth at Texas Motor Speedway in 2022, and he had struggled the final two years at North Wilkesboro Speedway earlier than main 28 laps in his victory.
“That proper there was completely unimaginable,” Bell mentioned. “North Wilkesboro is the most effective quick observe on the schedule.
“I had a lot enjoyable final yr. I sucked within the race, however racing right here final yr was a lot enjoyable. As this place continues to age, it’s simply going to get higher and higher. Man, that was a tremendous race.”
Logano, who was making an attempt to win his second consecutive All-Star Race on the 0.625-mile oval, wasn’t as a lot of a fan after arising 0.829 seconds quick regardless of main a race-high 139 of 250 laps.
The turning level was when Logano elected to remain on observe to maintain the lead underneath the “Promoter’s Warning” that randomly was deployed on Lap 217. Bell pitted for 2 tires throughout that ultimate warning and restarted sixth behind 5 drivers who stayed on observe.
Carson Hocevar, John Hunter Nemechek and Noah Gragson are within the All-Star Race.
He wanted solely 5 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 proper now,” mentioned Logano, who led a race-high 139 laps. “Simply dang it, we had the quickest automotive. I’m making an attempt to decide on my phrases appropriately on the warning scenario. Clearly, I obtained bit by it, so I’m the one annoyed.”
Logano lately had been supportive of the “Promoter’s Warning” that allowed observe proprietor Marcus Smith the choice of randomly throwing a yellow flag anytime earlier than Lap 220. However Logano was questioning its validity after Sunday’s race.
“Yeah, I’m all about no gimmicks with the warning,” Logano mentioned. “I’m all about that. Me and Marcus Smith aren’t seeing eye to eye proper now, okay? I’ve obtained to have a phrase with him.”
The Crew Penske star additionally would possibly like a phrase with Bell, whom Logano felt almost went over the road along with his profitable cross.
“I did all I may do to carry him off and he obtained underneath me and launched the brake and gave me no choice,” Logano mentioned. “Form of simply ran me up into the wall, and if I may’ve obtained to him, he was going round after a transfer like that. I simply couldn’t get again to him. Simply an excessive amount of to attempt to make up with the tire deficit.
“Simply annoyed after you lead so many laps and the automotive is so quick and also you don’t win. It hurts fairly a bit.”
Bell was bemused by Logano’s viewpoint.
“Joey was annoyed?” he requested rhetorically. “That’s attention-grabbing. I genuinely wouldn’t have guessed that. Effectively, I had obtained to him a pair instances earlier than and he made it very tough on me, as he ought to. I obtained my run, and I took the second, as I ought to.
“Yeah, I don’t assume that I did something that Joey has not performed, and I’ve seen Joey do a lot worse. We’ll proceed on.”
Ross Chastain completed third, adopted by Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott.
All-Star Race outcomes
1. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota2. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford3. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Cheverolet4. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet5. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet6. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet7. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota8. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet9. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota10. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford11. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet12. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota13. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford14. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet16. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford17. Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford18. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford19. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota20. Harrison Burton, No. 51 Ford21. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet22. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford23. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
