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Christopher Bell won the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday, holding off Joey Logano to earn a $1M check and a guaranteed berth in every future All-Star Race. Here’s where the Cup Series field stacks up after the second and final exhibition race of the season.
1. Christopher Bell
(Last week: 2)
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell makes a pit stop during NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Bell left nothing on the racetrack in his pursuit of the All-Star Race win on Sunday. After winning three races so far in the regular season, Bell’s All-Star Race win only cements him as one of the best drivers in the Cup Series.
(Last week: 1)
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) during NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
After qualifying 21st for the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday, Larson started from the back of the pack in the All-Star Race. Despite the uphill battle facing him, Larson climbed his way into the top 10 until a broken toe link took him out of contention and relegated him to a 21st-place finish.
(Last week: 3)
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron during NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Byron finished sixth at North Wilkesboro after leading 12 laps. He was mixing it up inside the top-five all night, but didn’t have enough speed or tire to contend for the win in the closing laps.
(Last week: 6)
Elliott ran top-five for the second week in a row, which is a sign of steady improvement for a No. 9 team that was previously lacking winning speed. There’s something to be said about the momentum Elliott has going into the Coca-Cola 600.
(Last Week: 5)
May 17, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick during the heat races for the NASCAR All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Reddick quietly drove his way to a seventh-place finish at North Wilkesboro. It was a solid day for a No. 45 team that historically struggles on short tracks. Look for Reddick to be in contention to snag his first win of 2025 at the Coke 600.
(Last week: 7)
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman makes a pit stop during NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Bowman led the way for Hendrick Motorsports with a fourth-place finish at North Wilkesboro. Like Reddick, Bowman could be in position to earn his first win of 2025 at Charlotte, as he’s been one of the strongest drivers on mile-and-a-half tracks as of late.
(Last week: 9)
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano during NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
The speed dial has undoubtedly been turned up in the No. 22 camp over the last several weeks. After winning at Texas and finishing ninth at Kansas, Logano came up one spot shy of winning the All-Star Race for the second year in a row. While that’s disappointing, it appears the No. 22 team is beginning to turn the corner.
(Last week: 11)
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain during NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
After an early spin resulting from contact with Austin Cindric, Chastain – battle scars and all – battled back to finish third. While he was unable to challenge Bell and Logano for the win, he fought through a considerable amount of adversity to get on the podium.
(Last week: 10)
May 17, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Briscoe spins out during the heat races for the NASCAR All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Like Reddick, Briscoe quietly drove his way to a ninth-place finish in a tame race for the No. 19 team. If speed and finishes begin to come together for Briscoe over the next half of the regular season, the No. 19 team could be dangerous come playoff time.
(Last week: 4)
May 17, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47) and NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) during the heat races for the NASCAR All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Blaney stayed out under the final caution flag of the race, choosing the same strategy as Logano. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out well for Blaney, as the 2022 All-Star Race winner dropped like a rock and ultimately finished 16th.
(Last week: 8)
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin is introduced before the NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
It was the third bad race in as many weeks for Hamlin, who fought an ill-handling car in both his heat race on Saturday and the All-Star Race on Sunday. Hamlin finished 12th of 23 cars, but make no mistake – the No. 11 was evil all weekend.
(Last week: 14)
May 17, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chris Buescher during the heat races for the NASCAR All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
In true Buescher fashion, the No. 17 was radio silent en route to a 10th-place finish. Even though the All-Star Race doesn’t pay points, a top-10 could be important as Buescher looks to regain momentum following a devastating penalty.
(Last week: 12)
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. waits for the start of the NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Stenhouse Jr. wasn’t in the center of a post-race brawl at North Wilkesboro like he was last year, but a solid 15th-place finish in the All-Star Race encapsulates what’s been a gritty, hard-fought season for HYAK Motorsports and the No. 47 team. Stenhouse’s fast start to the season doesn’t appear to be a fluke.
(Last week: Not ranked)
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch during NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Busch showed signs of life with a sixth-place finish at North Wilkesboro. Not only did he manage a top-10 result, but Busch also battled for the lead early in the race and showed that there is some speed to be found at Richard Childress Racing.
15. Austin Cindric
(Last week: 15)
Cindric’s All-Star race didn’t go exactly as planned. Damage from the aforementioned contact with Chastain put Cindric a lap down, and when he eventually got back onto the lead lap,he could make little headway. Cindric finished 18th.
(Last week: 13)
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace makes a pits stop during NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Wallace missed the All-Star Race for the first time since 2021. After getting passed by John Hunter Nemechek for the final transfer spot in the All-Star Open, Wallace faded and eventually finished the Open in eighth.
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