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, on Sunday.
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, OK? 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.
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 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."
"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.
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.