Christopher Bell wins NASCAR All-Star Race after contact-filled battle

In the final NASCAR Cup race on FOX this year, Christopher Bell claimed the checkered flag and a $1 million dollar prize in the All-Star Race on Sunday night. This is Bell’s first win in his fifth appearance in the All-Star Race, having placed no higher than tenth before this.

“North Wilkesboro, how about that one?” smiled Bell. “That right there is absolutely incredible. North Wilkesboro, best short track on the schedule!”

He also agreed that the historic short track deserves a points-paying race in the future before shouting out his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing pit crew. “Man, they’re the best. There’s nothing else to say. This sport can be so humbling because behind the car, behind the wheel, you’re just a small part of success.

“These boys right here, Adam Stevens [crew chief] on the pit box, all the mechanics, all the engineers that put this thing together, they’re the big picture. I’m the guy that gets to sit up here and talk to you and take pictures, but without them, I’m nobody. I owe it all to these guys.”

Watch: Christopher Bell: ‘Absolutely incredible’ to win All-Star Race

Joey Logano, who was on older tires, tried everything to fend off Bell in the closing laps, but lost the lead after getting pushed up the track in the final ten laps. He expressed frustration with the way he was raced, as well as the promoter’s caution that set up that sprint to the finish. Ross Chastain lurked just behind the two leaders throughout their tense battle and finished third, followed by Alex Bowman in fourth and Chase Elliott in fifth.

Chevrolet also won the Manufacturer Showdown, which is a new award for the All-Star Race in 2025.

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images

William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Chase Briscoe, and Chris Buescher filled out the remainder top ten.

Race recap

Keselowski held the lead from the start, but the field certainly made him work to keep it. Logano battled side-by-side with the RFK Racing driver for several laps, but struggled to actually clear him. 

The first caution flag flew when Daniel Suarez pounded the wall in a single-car incident. On the ensuing restart, Busch made a bold three-wide move for the lead, running the far outside. He nearly pulled it off, but Byron ended up clearing both Busch and Keselowski. Byron enjoyed a few laps out front until the ever-present Logano made his way around him.

The first pre-planned competition came 100 laps into the 250-lap event. Bell won the race off pit road, taking the lead from Logano. He held strong on the restart despite choosing the bottom lane while things got wild mid-pack.

Battling for eighth place on track, Cindric got into the left-rear of Chastain and triggered a wreck collecting both cars. Bell again chose to restart from the bottom, but this time, Logano was ready for him. The two drivers made slight contact as Logano muscled his way back into the lead from the outside.

With 75 laps to go, trouble found the pole-sitter as Keselowski slammed the outside wall.

During the caution, Larson was the only driver to take two tires, taking the lead for the ensuing restart. He was not able to hang onto the top spot, fading back to third.

As the run continued on, those watching awaited the newly introduced promoter’s caution. Michael Waltrip climbed up into the flagstand, as he was given the honor of choosing when it would come. Just as the race entered the final 40 laps, Larson smacked the wall and bent or broke a toe-link. Moments later, Waltrip waved the yellow and then literally dropped the caution flag onto the frontstretch.

The Penske duo of Logano and Blaney chose to stay out on old tires, along with Chastain, Hocevar, and Harrison Burton. Meanwhile, Bell led the rest of the field onto pit road where he collided with Fan Vote Winner Noah Gragson, but his car seemed okay. Larson had an extended stop to repair his car after the wall contact, but it was never the same after that.

This caution set up the thrilling battle for the finish as Logano and Bell went back-and-forth for the race win.

Photos from All-Star Race