For his inaugural moment of triumph as a NASCAR All-Star Race winner, Christopher Bell showered accolades on the rejuvenated 78-year-old racetrack that hosted an unforgettable night of racing. โLetโs go!โ Bell exclaimed to the enthusiastic approval of a full house of 25,000 spectators as he advocated during his frontstretch celebration that North Wilkesboro Speedway deserved a Cup Series points race.
โThe best short track in NASCAR,โ Bell declared. โItโs incredible. Itโs only going to improve as time goes on. Man, what an amazing race it was.โ Now hosting its third edition of the $1 million exhibition event, the speedway broke All-Star Race records with 18 lead changes and 59 green-flag passes for the lead, signaling its astonishing revival from a state of disrepair just three years prior.
Speedway Motorsports announced that grandstand seating and premium hospitality were fully booked for the 41st All-Star Race. This event attracted fans from 43 states and nine countries to North Wilkesboro, situated 80 miles north of Charlotte. SMI president and CEO Marcus Smith proclaimed that โlike Lambeau Field to football and Fenway Park to baseball, North Wilkesboro Speedway has become Americaโs throwback racetrack.โ
Bell, among several drivers advocating for the short track, stated it merits its first Cup Series points race in 30 years when NASCAR releases its 2026 schedule. This announcement is anticipated in a few months. โI donโt see why not,โ commented seven-time most popular driver winner Chase Elliott after finishing in fifth place. โIt seems perfectly capable of hosting, and itโs apparent the crowd is more than receptive to the idea. Iโm supportive of whatever NASCAR decides because it put on a great race for certain, so itโs hard to argue against that.โ
Aside from a scant series of minor-league races in 2010-11, North Wilkesboro Speedway had been largely dormant since Jeff Gordon emerged victorious in its latest Cup race on September 29, 1996. Thanks to a $20 million renovation fueled by federal support from the American Rescue Plan, awarded the track the 2023 All-Star Race.
The trackโs first two All-Star Races might have lacked pizzazz, but North Wilkesboro roared to life on Sunday. The 0.625-mile ovalโs surface has expanded into multiple lanes following a repaving last year, and Sundayโs race featured a stunning 1,426 green-flag passes that electrified the packed grandstands.
โMan, they turned up,โ Bell reflected. โWe went out for driver intros, and the place was packed and buzzing. We need more events like this.โ Joe Gibbs, the head of the team that celebrated its third All-Star Race victory with Bell joining past winners Kyle Busch (2015) and Denny Hamlin (2017), commended Smith and the local community support for putting the track in favorable consideration for future points races. โI wonโt be making that decision,โ Gibbs admitted, โbut the performance of this race and the remarkable crowd will undoubtedly influence that outcome significantly.โ
Already agitated by a โPromoterโs Cautionโ that negated his late lead and left him vulnerable on older tires, runner-up Joey Logano voiced his discontent with Bellโs winning maneuver in the No. 20 Toyota. After contact that squeezed his No. 22 Ford into the outside wall with nine laps left, Logano vowed potential retaliation if he had managed to catch Bell.
โI did everything I could to fend him off, and he dove under me, released the brake, leaving me no option,โ Logano stated, having led a race-high with 139 of 250 laps. โIf I could have gotten back to him, he was going around after a move like that. I just couldnโt reach him again. Itโs frustrating when you lead so many laps, the car is fast, and yet you donโt win. Itโs quite disappointing.โ
Bell was unfazed by Loganoโs frustration. โI reached him a couple of times before, and he made it particularly challenging for me, as is his right,โ Bell noted. โI got my opportunity, and I seized it, as anyone should. I donโt believe I did anything Joey wouldnโt have done; Iโve seen him do much worse. We shall move forward.โ
In other highlights, with top-five finishes from Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman, and Chase Elliott, Chevrolet triumphed over Ford and Toyota in the All-Star Raceโs inaugural โManufacturerโs Showdown,โ based on the combined results for each automaker. Jon Edwards, the former public relations representative for Kyle Larson who passed away the previous month, was honored posthumously with โThe Byrnsie Awardโ in tribute to the late broadcaster Steve Byrnes. Fox has presented this honor since 2016 to celebrate those who demonstrate Byrnesโ principles of preparation, teamwork, and family.