Christopher Bell handed Joey Logano with 9 laps remaining and cruised to victory in an action-packed NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday night time.
In a slam-bang affair that set a file for lead adjustments, Bell received by 0.829 seconds over Logano to earn his first All-Star Race victory. Ross Chastain completed third, adopted by Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott.
Logano elected to remain on monitor moderately than pit in the course of the ultimate yellow. The choice proved to be pricey whereas making an attempt to carry off Bell, who had pitted for 2 recent tires.
The sector was bunched for the ultimate time on Lap 216 with the “Promoter’s Warning,” thrown by two-time Daytona 500 winner and Fox Sports activities character Michael Waltrip, who dropped the yellow flag on the monitor. The gimmick to ensure a late restart was a sidebar to an eventful race.
After lackluster showings within the first two outings on the 0.625-mile oval (together with Logano main 199 of 200 laps to win final 12 months), the All-Star Race delivered way more motion in its third 12 months at North Wilkesboro Speedway. There have been 17 lead adjustments, breaking the mark of 13 (set in 2016) for probably the most within the occasion’s 41-year historical past.
Pole-sitter Brad Keselowski and Logano traded the lead twice within the first 10 laps and sometimes ran aspect by aspect for the lead. There have been six leaders and 10 lead adjustments within the first half of the race, which topped the whole variety of leaders (4) and lead adjustments (5) up to now two All-Star Races mixed.
After main 62 laps, Keselowski’s bid for his first All-Star Race victory ended with a crash on Lap 177.
All-Star Open outcomes
Capitalizing on pit technique, Carson Hocevar led the ultimate 46 laps to win the All-Star Open and advance into the NASCAR All-Star Race.
Runner-up John Hunter Nemechek additionally superior to the primary occasion by ending second within the 100-lap warmup race. Noah Gragson received an internet fan vote to earn the ultimate switch spot to the All-Star Race, whose discipline will embrace 20 different drivers competing for $1 million over 250 laps Sunday night time.
Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen completed thirteenth after main the primary 54 laps on the 0.625-mile oval. The New Zealand native, who’s in his first full Cup Sequence season after profitable three Supercar championships in Australia, fell from first to sixth on a four-tire pit cease in the course of the midway warning.
“I do not know whether or not to smile or cry,” mentioned van Gisbergen, who’s ranked thirty fifth within the factors standings with one prime 10 this season. “It has been a dismal 12 months for us, however I really feel like we’re getting higher each week. This reveals it.”
Expensive penalty
Ryan Preece completed eleventh within the Open after being despatched to the rear from second place on a restart with 17 laps remaining. Preece mentioned he unintentionally ran over the dedication line earlier than which drivers should select whether or not they’re restarting on the within or exterior lane.
“It is actually nonexistent from contained in the automotive,” Preece mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t see it. I am pissed off as a result of when you have a state of affairs like that, put a cone on the market so we will see it. Our Ford Mustang was tremendous quick, and I feel we had been the one one which was making some waves. It is heartbreaking to have a run like that taken away.”
NASCAR repainted the restart dedication line earlier than the beginning of the All-Star Race.
More cash
The All-Star Race winner’s share has been $1 million for the reason that 2003 occasion, and a few drivers have grumbled that a rise for inflation is properly overdue.
“I undoubtedly suppose it ought to get raised,” 2023 Cup Sequence champion Ryan Blaney mentioned this week. “That is the one factor concerning the All-Star Race I would in all probability change. I do not wish to get grasping, however I feel you’ll be able to increase it to $3 million.”
Bubba Wallace mentioned he’d counsel $5 million however could be good for a bump to $3 million.
“They have extra TV cash, so why not,” Wallace mentioned, referring to NASCAR’s media rights elevating to $1.1 billion yearly in a deal beginning this 12 months.
Up subsequent
The Cup Sequence will race Could 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway within the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season. Bell received final 12 months’s race, which was shortened from 600 to 374 miles by rain.
Kyle Larson missed the 2024 race after arriving late as a result of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed by rain. The Hendrick Motorsports star once more will try and develop into the fifth driver to race the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the identical day.
