Bell steals All Star Race

Christopher Bell made a late charge to steal the million dollar NASCAR All Star Race from Joey Logano.

Logano had dominated the majority of the 250-lap affair at North Wilkesboro Speedway, leading 139 laps from fourth on the grid.

The #22 Team Penske Ford Mustang appeared in control ahead of the run home, but the race changed when the promotor’s caution was waved by Michael Waltrip on Lap 216.

The entire field aside from Logano and teammate Ryan Blaney pitted for fresh tyres and Bell emerged as the nearest rival despite a heavy clash with Noah Gragson on pit road.

The fight for the lead erupted with 22 laps to go when Logano and Bell went side by side for the first time.

The duo were door to door for multiple laps before Logano won the battle and retained the lead on the outside.

This brought Ross Chastain and Alex Bowman then joined in to make it a four-way contest.

The #48 slipped underneath the #1 for third as Logano enjoyed half a second up.

But the leaders were nose to tail again with 13 laps to go and they started rubbing panels again.

After some willing action where neither were giving an inch, Bell finally made the decisive move 11 laps from home.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver made a big dive at Turn 2, which saw the pair rub doors across the back straight before the #20 snaked his way past.

Logano could not respond and ended up eight tenths adrift at the chequered flag.

“North Wilkesboro, how about that one? That right there is absolutely incredible,” Bell said.

This sport can be so humbling because behind the car, behind the wheel, you’re just a small part of success.

“These boys right here, Adam Stevens on the pit box, all the mechanics, all the engineers that put this thing together, they’re the big picture. 

“I’m the guy that gets to sit up here and talk to you and take pictures, but without them, I’m nobody. I owe it all to these guys.”

Logano was frustrated believing the win was there.

“I’m pissed off right now. Just dang it, we had the fastest car,” he said. 

“The Shell-Pennzoil Mustang was so fast. You get to — I’m trying to choose my words correctly on the caution situation. Obviously I got bit by it, so I am the one frustrated obviously.

“Thought maybe we could hold him off but the #20 had a good enough restart, cleared too many of them too fast. I couldn’t get away in time. It took me six, seven laps to get my car up and rolling again.

“I did all I could do to hold him off and he got under me and released the brake and gave me no option. Kind of just ran me up into the wall, and if I could’ve got to him, he was going around after a move like that, I just couldn’t get back to him. Just too much to try to make up with the tire deficit.

“Just frustrated after you lead so many laps and the car is so fast and you don’t win, it hurts quite a bit.”

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