CHRISTOPHER BELL WINS THE ONE MILLION DOLLAR PRIZE AT THE NASCAR ALL STAR IN NORTH WILKESBORO – TOYOTA GAZOO RACING PHOTO
Christopher Bell claims million-dollar prize in 5th attempt
NORTH WILKESBORO, NC (May 18, 2025) – Christopher Bell and his team
made the correct pit call on the final caution and Bell drove from sixth
to first to claim his first All-Star race win – and the million-dollar
prize – at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday evening. It is Toyota
and Joe Gibbs Racing’s first All-Star win since 2017.
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s John Hunter Nemechek had a strong evening as well
as he finished runner-up in the All-Star Open and advanced to the
All-Star race for the first time.
TOYOTA QUOTES
CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 1st
How did the win unfold for you tonight?
“North Wilkesboro, how about that one? That right there was absolutely
incredible. North Wilkesboro is the best short track on the schedule.
Let’s go.”
What does your pit crew mean to your success?
“They’re the best. There’s nothing else to say. This sport can be
so humbling because behind the wheel you’re just a small part of the
success. These boys right here, Adam Stevens (crew chief) on the pit
box, all the mechanics, all the engineers that put this thing together
– they’re the big picture. I’m just the guy that gets to stand up
here and talk to you and take the pictures, but without them I’m
nobody and I owe it all to these guys.”
Can you describe the racing here at North Wilkesboro?
“North Wilkesboro – the best short track in NASCAR. It is absolutely
incredible. I knew – I had so much fun last year. I sucked in the
race but racing here last year was so much fun. As this place continues
to age, it’s just going to get better and better. Man, that was an
amazing race. All the way from – there were so many guys up there racing
for the lead. We saw two-wide, three-wide for the lead, it’s just a
pleasure to race here, and especially whenever you get to drive this
Mobil 1 Toyota Camry. These boys have done such a good job on this
thing. I told them going into it, this was the best car we’ve had in a
long time. Joey (Logano) was fast. He gave us a lot of competition and
the 12 (Ryan Blaney) was really good there and the 9 (Chase Elliott).
They had competitive cars. The strategy – we knew it would be all over
the place and it fell our way.”
_\How were you able to get by Joey Logano?
“He’s (Joey Logano) probably the best. Him and his spotter do such a
good job of working together to play the air game. It works, it works
really well. Whether you’re at North Wilkesboro or you’re at Kansas
or Michigan. He did a great job of trying to keep me behind him and I
knew that once I got that run off turn 4, it was like alright, I’m
going to have to be a little more aggressive and kind of leaned on him
and got him out of position. I knew once I got the lead, I had the tire
advantage so I should be able to cruise, and it worked out that way.”