Christopher Bell capped an thrilling All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro on Sunday by getting round Joey Logano with 10 laps to go to choose up his first career All-Star win.
Listed below are three takeaways from the All-Star Race:
Christopher Bell’s $1 million win punctuates thrilling All-Star Race
Not like the final two editions of the All-Star Race on the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway that featured dominant performances from the winners and few battles all through the sphere, Sunday’s race was the exact opposite.
Whereas Logano led a race-high 139 laps, a choice to return to pit street after the brand new promoter’s warning got here out with 35 laps to go gave Bell the benefit he wanted. He chased Logano down and ran him excessive in Turns 1 and a couple of earlier than taking the lead and pulling away to win by 0.829 seconds.
Bell, who led 28 laps, was part of the 18 lead adjustments through the race as drivers have been capable of run a number of lanes all night time. With a lot negativity surrounding the present brief monitor bundle, Sunday night time’s All-Star Race was encouraging and may put North Wilkesboro within the dialog for a much-deserved points-paying race.
Kyle Larson’s rally from the again ends with disappointment
With Larson making ready for subsequent weekend’s Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double, his schedule didn’t permit him to be current at North Wilkesboro for apply or qualifying. After qualifying Twenty first for the Indianapolis 500, Larson made the journey to race for $1 million, however needed to begin on the tail of the sphere.
Larson methodically labored his means as much as seventh by Lap 151 of the 250-lap occasion. He took over the race lead after a two-tire name on Lap 178 and was nonetheless working third with 36 laps to go when he hit the wall in Flip 2 and light to a Twenty first-place end within the 23-car discipline.
Even with no laps within the automobile this weekend earlier than Sunday, Larson as soon as once more demonstrated his immense expertise behind the wheel. He’ll now flip his consideration again to Indianapolis for apply earlier than making an attempt to finish each marquee races subsequent Sunday, one 12 months after climate prevented him from doing so.
The hits hold coming for Brad Keselowski
After profitable his first profession pole within the All-Star Race and main 62 laps, Keselowski seemed to be heading towards a breakthrough efficiency this season. That was not the case when he misplaced management in Turns 3 and 4 and hit the wall whereas working ninth.
Whereas his Twenty second-place end within the exhibition race doesn’t have an effect on his factors place, it compounds what has already been a making an attempt season for the driving force/proprietor of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.
He has but to attain a top-10 end via the primary 12 points-paying races and enters the Coca-Cola 600 searching for a turnaround. On the brilliant aspect, Keselowski had pace at North Wilkesboro, which reveals the potential is there if he can capitalize on the tempo in his No. 6 Ford.
