There is plenty to unpack from the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race Weekend at North Wilkesboro. Where should I start, Carson Hocevar winning the open race, or perhaps Ryan Preece blowing a golden opportunity because he completely forgot about the lane choice box? Or maybe the All-Star race itself. Perhaps I should talk about Joey Logano being angry at Marcus Smith, or maybe he was mad at Michael Waltrip. I’m gonna take a phrase out of All-Star race winner Christopher Bell’s book. Best short-track on the circuit.
This event lived up to the hype, and North Wilkesboro has proven it’s here to stay.
North Wilkesboro Deserves Full Race Date, After Christopher Bell Captures All-Star Win
The All-Star open was first up with three spots available for the 18 drivers trying to make their way into the Main Event of the evening. Shane van Gisbergen had the fastest car and looked like he was going to make easy work of everybody else. Along with him, Carson Hocevar certainly appeared like he was going to also be in contention to advance to the All-Star race.
Boy, did that change dramatically when the competition caution came out halfway through the race. Two tires and many different strategies forced van Gisbergen further back in the field. It quickly played into the hands of Hocevar and Ryan Preece, as both put themselves into the two spots that would transfer to the All-Star race.
Preece makes a major misjudgment.
With Hocevar in the lead and Preece in second, a caution with less than 20 to go brought this race into some drama. As the drivers chose for the restart, much like they do each and every week. Preece failed to pass below choose cone, which is painted on the track. He drove over the box, which is an automatic penalty. Thus knocking himself out of advancing to the All-Star race.
While Preece stewed on that, Carson Hocevar and John Hunter Nemechek finished first and second in the Open to qualify for the All-Star race. Noah Gragson was rewarded for the third season in a row, the fan vote.
Noah Gragson's fans got it done! He wins the 2025 Fan Vote to race in tonight's All-Star Race.#NASCARonFS1 | @NWBSpeedway pic.twitter.com/wJuHVXyViv
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 18, 2025
When later asked about what happened, Preece wasn’t too happy with NASCAR. In his mind, there should be an actual cone on the race track, or at least that’s what he told reporters. Preece was later seen by Taylor Kitchen from AboveTheYellowLine walking with a cone, which he carried out to the pit lane.
“I’m frustrated because if you have a situation like that, put a cone out there so we can visually see it…”
Looks like Ryan Preece did just that right after the All-Star Open.
— Taylor Kitchen (@_TaylorKitchen_) May 18, 2025
NASCAR’s response before the All-Star race started, they ended up going out and repainting the choose marker.
All-Star Race Doesn’t Disappoint
With the sports top stars all ready to do whatever they could to win $1 million, the sold-out crowd was in for a real treat. And boy, did the racing deliver. This year’s All-Star race will be one to remember for a while. From tire strategy, to good, hard short track racing, to whatever the heck Michael Waltrip was doing with the yellow flag on about lap 215 of the 250-lap event.
Brad Keselowski and Christopher Bell led the field to green after each won the heat races on Saturday night to set the full lineup. Keselowski fired off great as he jumped out to the lead.
Green. GREEN. GREEN! The 2025 NASCAR #AllStarRace is UNDERWAY at @NWBSpeedway. pic.twitter.com/XBtZpqOYW5
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 19, 2025
He would quickly get challenges from the likes of Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, and William Byron. With Logano giving Keselowski the most challenge. The racing was, truthfully must must-watch, because there was action at every turn. Far and away better than last year’s race. A race that saw Logano lead all but one lap of a 200-lap All-Star race.
Sure, he was once again the best car, leading 139 laps in this one, but Christopher Bell would be the one to ultimately cash out by the night’s end.
Most Passes for Lead in All-Star Race History
To think there have been well over 40 of these things run throughout the history of NASCAR. To see 18 passes for the lead, which is the most ever in such an event, truly is special. With some early tire trouble for Daniel Suarez that made for some early two tire pit calls, by the likes of William Byron and Busch. That allowed each of them to get to the lead, but they weren’t able to hold onto the track position as Logano quickly got back to the lead.
Following that incident for Suarez on lap 58, the race ran the next 38 laps green. Then came the halfway all-star caution. Logano started to take over at that point.
And there it is. The All-Star caution at North Wilkesboro! Joey Logano is your leader. #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/kjtFo4D9Ka
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 19, 2025
Despite losing the lead on a couple of pit stop periods during the mid-part of the race, including when Kyle Larson, who has been focused on his Indy 500 effort most of the week, was able to get to Wilkesboro for this event, got the lead on a two tire stop following a hard crash for Brad Keselowski.
"A bump and a thump … not much left on the right front." Trouble for Brad Keselowski. #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/u8nDskICKd
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 19, 2025
Larson’s gamble after racing his way from the back didn’t pay off as he couldn’t keep Logano and Bell behind him. As the laps continued to wind down. Everybody’s attention started to go to FOX broadcaster and 1996 All-Star race winner Michael Waltrip.
You Had One Job, Mikey
As it turned out, the well-publicized promoter’s caution was going to be thrown by Waltrip at some point, as it became clear to viewers somewhere around lap 215 or so. What no one knew was exactly what was going to happen. Not to seem biased, but at about lap 215, Waltrip was holding the yellow flag when Larson slammed into the wall. Thus, the yellow came out.
While Michael was doing so, the track set off some fireworks, as if it were a celebration or something. As that was happening, FOX Sports’ Kevin Harvick was quick to point out that Waltrip had dropped the flag onto the race track.
You had one job, Mikey 😂 @MW55 | #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ozvynfyWCF
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 19, 2025
It was certainly not his finest moment, but it lived up to the “promoter’s caution” alright.
Bell Outfoxes Logano
The caution set up one final dash of 28 laps to decide the winner. Logano stayed out, while Christopher Bell and everyone else pitted. That was the move of the race, as the final laps would prove. Bell had the better car and tires when he and Logano got side by side with under 10 to go.
Logano, who is notorious for being hard to pass, was trying to hold up Bell, but couldn’t, and when Bell got to his inside, he ran Logano up the track, which is fair game. More on that in a minute.
With Logano in the mirror, Bell cruised to the All-Star victory. Following the win, when interviewed by Fox’s Jamie Little, Bell had plenty to say.
” North Wilkesboro, best short track on the schedule,” Bell said.
"NORTH WILKESBORO – BEST SHORT TRACK ON THE SCHEDULE."- Christopher Bell after his All-Star win pic.twitter.com/W1Hl8nfIDA
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 19, 2025
I have to agree on that one. This track belongs on the schedule and not just as the All-Star event. While Bell was high on the emotions of winning the race. Logano didn’t hold back with his frustrations.
Logano Proves He’s a Hack
There are plenty of things out of a driver’s control in a race. But the excuses Logano gave following this one were a bit out there. First, he was mad about the caution, then he seemed to direct his anger at Bell’s move, and then to target his frustration at track owner Marcus Smith. It sounded more like a crybaby, not a three-time Cup Champion. That’s just my thoughts on his post-race reaction.
” Glad you had a blast, I’m pissed off right now,” Logano told Regan Smith. ” Had the fastest car, dang it … trying to choose my words carefully on the caution.”
Logano then continued and accused Bell of running him into the wall, although he never actually touched the wall. I don’t know what else to say other than Logano certainly seems like a hypocrite and a hack, as Denny Hamlin would say.
As for his reaction to the caution, he claimed not to like gimmicks. Wow, that’s bold for a driver whose three Cup titles have all been pretty gimmicky. Sorry, Christopher Bell got the better of you. Maybe next time you should have pitted. Nothing better than seeing Joey show his true colors.
READ MORE: Three-Peat for Bell, As Tire Strategy Highlights Shriners Children’s 400 at Phoenix
Main Photo: David Jensen, Getty Images
Recording Date: 5/18/2025
