**Joey Logano Slams Christopher Bell After $1M NASCAR All-Star Race Heartbreak**
In a dramatic showdown at the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Christopher Bell outdueled Joey Logano to claim the $1 million prize, sparking heated controversy and a war of words between the two drivers. The non-points exhibition race, held on May 18, 2025, showcased intense racing, strategic gambles, and a contentious “Promoter’s Caution” that altered the race’s outcome, leaving Logano fuming and Bell celebrating a hard-fought victory.
Logano, the defending All-Star Race champion and 2024 NASCAR Cup Series winner, led a race-high 139 of 250 laps, showcasing the speed of his No. 22 Team Penske Ford. However, a new rule for 2025 allowed Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith to deploy a discretionary caution flag between laps 100 and 250. On lap 216, with Logano holding a 0.580-second lead over Bell, the caution was waved by Michael Waltrip, prompting a split in pit strategies. Bell’s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team opted for two fresh tires, while Logano and several others, including teammate Ryan Blaney, stayed out to maintain track position.
The decision proved costly for Logano. Bell, restarting in sixth with fresher tires, carved through the field and caught Logano within five laps. In a fierce battle, Bell made a decisive move on lap 241, brushing Logano up the track to take the lead. Bell held on for the final nine laps, crossing the finish line 0.829 seconds ahead of Logano to secure his first All-Star Race victory and the $1 million paycheck. Ross Chastain, who recovered from an earlier spin, finished third, followed by Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott.
Post-race, Logano didn’t hold back, expressing frustration with both Bell’s aggressive pass and the promoter’s caution. “If I could’ve got to him, he was going around after a move like that,” Logano said, suggesting he felt Bell’s maneuver was overly aggressive. He also criticized the caution, stating, “Me and Marcus Smith aren’t seeing eye to eye right now.” Logano believed his Shell-Pennzoil Mustang was the fastest car and could have held off Bell without the caution disrupting his rhythm.
Bell, however, dismissed Logano’s complaints, calling his frustration “interesting” and asserting that his pass was clean. “I genuinely would not have guessed that,” Bell remarked, noting that Logano’s blocking forced him to push the issue. NASCAR insiders Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi, on their podcast *The Teardown*, sided with Bell, arguing that his pass was fair given the race’s high stakes and non-points nature. “Bell raced him fairly clean,” Bianchi said, adding that Logano would likely have made a similar move.
The controversy has sparked debate among fans, with some praising Bell’s bold strategy and others sympathizing with Logano’s strategic gamble gone awry. As Bell basks in his $1 million triumph, Logano’s comments suggest this rivalry could carry over into the regular season. With the Coca-Cola 600 next on the schedule, all eyes will be on these two drivers as they navigate their on-track tensions.
