Christopher Bell celebrates after winning the NASCAR All-Star auto race Sunday, May 18, 2025, in North Wilkesboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

Christopher Bell loves North Wilkesboro Speedway, and Joey Logano hates the “Promoter’s Caution.”

Those were the main takeaways from the top two finishers in an action-packed NASCAR All-Star Race at the 0.625-mile oval in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

In a slam-bang affair that set a record for lead changes, Bell beat Logano by 0.829 seconds to earn his first All-Star Race victory. Bell, who won three consecutive Cup Series races earlier this season but had a previous best All-Star finish of 10th, delivered the third All-Star Race win for Joe Gibbs Racing.

“That right there is absolutely incredible,” Bell said. “North Wilkesboro, best short track on the schedule.”

He also is a fan of Marcus Smith, the president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports that owns North Wilkesboro Speedway. In a new All-Star Race wrinkle, Smith was allowed to choose when to throw a ” Promoter’s Caution ” that would bunch the field for a late restart.

Smith sent two-time Daytona 500 winner and Fox Sports personality Michael Waltrip to the flag stand to display the random yellow flag on Lap 217 with Logano leading by about a half-second over Bell.

Logano, who was trying to win his second consecutive All-Star Race, elected to stay on track rather than pit during the caution, and the decision proved costly. Bell pitted for two fresh tires, restarted in sixth and 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.”

It was a stark turnaround for the defending Cup Series champion, who recently said he supported the “Promoter’s Caution” because “the All-Star Race presents the opportunity to try things outside of the box.” But he 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.”

Ross Chastain finished third, followed by Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott.

The “Promoter’s Caution” was introduced to guarantee an exciting finish, but the All-Star Race hardly needed much help this year.

After lackluster showings in the first two outings, the All-Star Race delivered much more action in its third year at North Wilkesboro Speedway. There were 18 lead changes, breaking the mark of 13 (set in 2016) for the most in the event’s 41-year history.

Pole-sitter Brad Keselowski and Logano traded the lead twice in the first 10 laps and often ran side by side for the lead. There were six leaders and 10 lead changes in the first half of the race, which topped the total number of leaders (four) and lead changes (five) in the past two All-Star Races combined.

After leading 62 laps, Keselowski’s bid for his first All-Star Race victory ended with a crash on Lap 177.

All-Star Open results

Capitalizing on pit strategy, Carson Hocevar led the final 46 laps to win the All-Star Open earlier Sunday and advanced into the NASCAR All-Star Race.

Runner-up John Hunter Nemechek also advanced to the main event by finishing second in the 100-lap warmup race. Noah Gragson won an online fan vote to earn the final transfer spot to the All-Star Race, whose field will included 20 other drivers competing for $1 million.

Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen finished 13th after leading the first 54 laps on the 0.625-mile oval. The New Zealand native, who is in his first full Cup Series season after winning three Supercar championships in Australia, fell from first to sixth on a four-tire pit stop during the halfway caution.

“I don’t know whether to smile or cry,” said van Gisbergen, who is ranked 35th in the points standings with one top 10 this season. “It’s been a dismal year for us, but I feel like we’re getting better every week. This shows it.”

More money

The All-Star Race winner’s share has been $1 million since the 2003 event, and some drivers have grumbled that an increase for inflation is well overdue.

“I definitely think it should get raised,” 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney said this week. “That’s the only thing about the All-Star Race I’d probably change. I don’t want to get greedy, but I think you can raise it to $3 million.”

Bubba Wallace said he’d suggest $5 million but would be good for a bump to $3 million.

“They’ve got more TV money, so why not,” Wallace said, referring to NASCAR’s media rights raising to $1.1 billion annually in a deal starting this year.

Up next

The Cup Series will race May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season. Christopher Bell won last year’s race, which was shortened from 600 to 374 miles by rain.

Kyle Larson missed the 2024 race after arriving late because the Indianapolis 500 was delayed by rain. The Hendrick Motorsports star again will attempt to become the fifth driver to race the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. pulled back the curtain on a side of his father few fans ever saw. In a candid podcast interview, he revealed Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s quiet plans to step away from racing slowly, not to retire, but to reshape NASCAR’s future.

The seven-time Cup Series champion, who died in the 2001 Daytona 500, aimed to trade firesuits for boardrooms. His vision? Grow Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) into a dynasty and guide NASCAR’s France family through pivotal decisions.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reveals Senior’s Unseen Boardroom Ambitions

The Intimidator’s grit on track was matched by sharp business instincts off it and by 2001, he’d become close to NASCAR’s front office. Earnhardt Sr. had his way on advising the France family on marketing, merchandise, and fan engagement, areas he’d mastered through DEI’s success.

“He was a very close confidant and friend of the France family,” Dale Jr. said on the “Rubbin’ is Racing” podcast. “He had their ear a little bit and I think he could have steered some things into some good directions and helped the France family go in some good directions. He was very smart about the business side of it, the marketability of the sport, and the souvenir side of it as well.”

Dale Earnhardt’s clout extended to protecting his son’s career. When rival Darrell Waltrip tried to sign a young Dale Jr. in the late 1990s, Earnhardt Sr. shut it down. “You stay away from him. You’ll pay him too damn much money,” he warned Waltrip.

“I won’t be able to compete with you. I got plans for him.” Those plans? A groundbreaking $10 million Budweiser deal at DEI, NASCAR’s richest sponsorship then.

“I think he would have done helped them make some great decisions to help the sport maintain and retain its popularity,” Dale Jr. said. “So he would have worked for it. He would have been an ambassador forever for the sport. He would have went anywhere they needed him to go.”

Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s Legacy Cut Short, Leaving What-Ifs

Earnhardt Sr.’s death didn’t just stun fans — it shattered a father-son bond that was finally healing through racing. Dale Jr. had spent years clashing with his dad, acting out for attention.

“Man, I was a troubled kid… I was really probably more of a disappointment up until probably 1996, ’97,” he told Danica Patrick in 2017. “I started driving in the Xfinity Series in a couple races for Dad and started showing ‘hey, there’s some purpose for me here and here’s direction for me.’”

For Junior, the answers lie in a podcast booth, not a trophy case. His father’s true legacy wasn’t just the titles — it was the future he never got to build.

• Nissan’s kangaroo stamp features in vehicles around the world
• Stamp features on parts made in Nissan Casting Australia Plant, which has earned the prestigious Australian Made certification.
• Based in Victoria, Australia, the plant exports 1.2 million components annually for vehicles in 11 global markets.

Melbourne, Australia – For a long time, many Nissan vehicles worldwide have featured a hidden surprise – a distinctive and fun Kangaroo motif stamped on the components produced at Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP), paying homage to their Australian-made roots.

Based in Dandenong South, Victoria, NCAP is a cornerstone of Nissan’s global manufacturing network. As the sole supplier for 40 different components, it produces 1.2-million-parts annually, including casting variants and accessories for high-pressure die-cast aluminium electric vehicle (EV), e-POWER, Final Drive and ICE-engine components. This includes 25 distinct high-pressure die-cast aluminium components and six different tow bars for use in domestic and international markets.

All parts are exported to international assembly plants to be supplied to markets globally. This means that some of our most iconic models in the Nissan Africa, Middle East, India, Europe & Oceania (AMIEO) region, such as the Nissan LEAF and Patrol, already hold a visible symbol of Australian craftsmanship and excellence through NCAP’s unique Kangaroo stamp. Now, this mark of quality and authenticity has been officialised with NCAP receiving Australian Made status with every towbar, high- and low-pressure aluminium casting produced at the plant earning the coveted accreditation.

Andrew Humberstone, Managing Director of Nissan Oceania, said, “For many years, the Nissan Casting Australia Plant team has included something of an Easter egg on each of its components sent overseas — a distinctive kangaroo insignia. Following the official Australian Made certification, it’s exciting to see the kangaroo take on a new and globally recognised life of its own with the Australian Made logo embedded for the world to see.

“The Nissan Casting Australia Plant is a true local automotive manufacturing success story, and it’s one we’re incredibly proud of. Earning official Australian Made certification is recognition of the team’s hard work over a long period of time in producing world-class componentry that appears in Nissan vehicles around the world.”

The Australian Made symbol is one of the country’s most loved and recognised, with recent Roy Morgan research* indicating 99% of Australians recognise it and 91% of Australians want to see more Australian Made products in the market. The iconic label of a yellow kangaroo on a green background is only issued to products that meet strict criteria, including that the product has undergone its last substantial transformation in Australia.

Established in 1982, the Nissan Casting Australia Plant is now home to 192 staff and contractors. It has evolved with the industry and its transition to zero emission vehicles – from producing componentry for internal combustion (ICE) powered vehicles to advancing its operations to the manufacture of electric and e-POWER hybrid powertrain components. The team of highly skilled engineers and employees work closely with the development teams in Japan, who are helping shape Nissan’s involvement in the future of vehicle mobility.  

Australian Made Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro, commented, “It’s great to see Nissan Casting Plant Australia strengthen its commitment to local manufacturing and begin stamping their aluminium castings and towbars with the iconic kangaroo.”

“There is a growing demand for Australian products, with country-of-origin increasingly influencing purchasing decisions. As we know, Aussie products are manufactured to some of the highest standards in the world, making them trusted and known for their safety and quality. For more than 35 years, the trusted green and gold kangaroo logo has helped thousands of brands communicate their Australian credentials to consumers, businesses and all levels of government and it’s a great achievement for a company to join this esteemed group.”

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Disclaimer:

* Roy Morgan Research 2024

About Nissan AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe & Oceania)

Nissan AMIEO comprises Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania markets. This vast and diverse region employs more than 19,000 people and covers 140 markets with a population of around 3.8 billion. The AMIEO region also boasts an extensive vehicle offering, including the iconic Nissan Patrol SUV, pioneering Nissan Qashqai and the fully electric crossover, Nissan Ariya.

Sustainability is at the core of Nissan’s long-term vision, Ambition 2030, which sets out to deliver electrified models and technological innovation in key markets globally and support Nissan’s goal to be carbon neutral across the life cycle of its products and operations by 2050.

For more information about Nissan’s products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissan-global.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.

Contacts:

Emily Fadeyev
General Manager Corporate Communications
Nissan Motor Co. Australia
Email: emily_fadeyev@nissan.com.au
Mobile: 0407 820 192 

Paul James
General Manager, Corporate Communications
Nissan AMIEO
Email: paul.james2@nissan-nmuk.co.uk