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NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: North Wilkesboro delivers on All-Star Race

JHby: Jonathan Howard05/19/25Jondean25
Christopher Bell NASCAR All-Star Race
Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

The NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro delivered the best All-Star Race in years and likely the best short track race, too. More or less a three-groove track, there was even a four-wide moment in the race.

Even with a “gimmick” caution near the end, fans collectively loved the product. It was great short-track racing throughout the field. Like, really good racing.

There was a lot going on. Qualifying, pit crews, Open Race, Heat Races, and so much more. Let’s break it all down before the Coca-Cola 600.

Shane van Gisbergen, Brad Keselowski earn pole awards

In the qualifying sessions for the Open and All-Star Race, Shane van Gisbergen and Brad Keselowski picked up pole awards. The two drivers definitely needed a boost this weekend and for the season.

While things didn’t work out for either of them in their respective races, it was nice to see them run up front even for a little bit. Could this create more confidence in these teams?

Michael McDowell’s pit crew wins $100,000 prize

Besides SVG and Keselowski, the big winners during qualifying on Friday was Michael McDowell’s pit crew. A very young pit crew with minimal experience on part-time and low-budget teams came together for one great moment.

McDowell has a Hendrick Motorsports leased pit crew for his Spire Motorsports team. They beat all of the big boys at HMS and collected the $100,000 prize.

Kevin Harvick Inc. wins entertaining CARS Tour race

Despite the Lap 2 pile up, the CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car race was great. I had a ton of fun watching it and I think it was a good exposure event on FS1 for the series to the larger NASCAR fanbase.

Landen Lewis got the win for Kevin Harvick Inc. That entire group is doing great stuff lately.

Corey Heim confronts Layne Riggs after losing out on win

The Truck Series race on Saturday night got physical late. Corey Heim and Layne Riggs were racing hard with Chandler Smith right there with them.

Riggs, much like he did against Carson Hocevar at Kansas, got into Heim. Only this time, the leader wasn’t able to keep his truck going straight. Smith ended up winning the race.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had his fighting shorts on

After last year’s fight with Kyle Busch at North Wilkesboro, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wasn’t going to be caught lacking. He brought back the same shorts he had on during that infamous fight.

Stenhouse was ready to go with whoever, I guess. Alas, there were not post-race fights this weekend.

Noah Gragson remains Mayor of North Wilkesboro

For the third year in a row, the NASCAR fans have voted Noah Gragson into the All-Star Race. The Mayor of North Wilkesboro, three years running.

Gragson did fine in the All-Star Race. He did much better than the Open race where he suffered power steering issues. Gragson will try to turn his season around as the Cup Series heads to Charlotte.

Ty Dillon threatens Zane Smith – Smith calls his bluff

After the Open race, Ty Dillon threatened to beat Zane Smith’s “ass” if he ever “wrecked” him again. Smith had maybe driven Dillon up to the wall duringhte race, but he didn’t wreck him.

Besides the point, Smith called Dillon’s bluff. “Ain’t kicking nobody’s ass,” Smith responded online.

Ryan Preece delivers ‘choose cone’ to track after penalty

In a hilarious turn of events, Ryan Preece got creative with the choose cone after he was penalized for running over the painted choose “v” on the track. Preece was so upset by the penalty that he went and grabbed a traffic cone and put it on the inside wall of the track.

Preece missed out on the All-Star Race. He arguably should have won the Open, but the penalty cost him that chance.

Michael Waltrip literally throws the yellow flag

The promoter’s caution was…not as bad as I thought it would be. Even with Michael Waltrip literally throwing the flag (on “accident”), it was well deployed and was a healthy dose of fun/goofiness to an event that is designed to be gimmicky.

Besides, I’ll take it after the great battle we saw at the end of the race. Joey Logano vs. Christopher Bell on uneven tire strategies. Fantastic.

Christopher Bell wins All-Star Race, Joey Logano fumes

With his two fresh tires, Christopher Bell was just better than Joey Logano. The NASCAR drivers were going at it, trading paint and not giving an inch. Eventually, the tire advantage was too much for Logano to handle.

Logano was furious after the race. He didn’t like the promoter’s caution, how Bell raced him, and said if he had gotten a chance to do it, he would have sent Bell spinning.