Latest news with #Promoter'sCaution
Toronto Sun
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Toronto Sun
Christopher Bell beats Joey Logano in action-packed NASCAR All-Star Race
Published May 18, 2025 • 4 minute read Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 18, 2025 in North Wilkesboro, N.C. Photo by David Jensen / Getty Images Christopher Bell passed Joey Logano with nine laps remaining and cruised to victory in an action-packed NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday night. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In a slam-bang affair that set a record for lead changes, Bell won by 0.829 seconds over Logano to earn his first All-Star Race victory. Ross Chastain finished third, followed by Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott. Logano elected to stay on track rather than pit during the final yellow. The decision proved to be costly while trying to hold off Bell, who had pitted for two fresh tires. The field was bunched for the final time on Lap 216 with the 'Promoter's Caution,' thrown by two-time Daytona 500 winner and Fox Sports personality Michael Waltrip, who dropped the yellow flag on the track. The gimmick to guarantee a late restart was a sidebar to an eventful race. After lackluster showings in the first two outings on the 0.625-mile oval (including Logano leading 199 of 200 laps to win last year), the All-Star Race delivered much more action in its third year at North Wilkesboro Speedway. There were 17 lead changes, breaking the mark of 13 (set in 2016) for the most in the event's 41-year history. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Pole-sitter Brad Keselowski and Logano traded the lead twice in the first 10 laps and often ran side by side for the lead. There were six leaders and 10 lead changes in the first half of the race, which topped the total number of leaders (four) and lead changes (five) in the past two All-Star Races combined. After leading 62 laps, Keselowski's bid for his first All-Star Race victory ended with a crash on Lap 177. ALL-STAR OPEN RESULTS Capitalizing on pit strategy, Carson Hocevar led the final 46 laps to win the All-Star Open and advance into the NASCAR All-Star Race. Runner-up John Hunter Nemechek also advanced to the main event by finishing second in the 100-lap warmup race. Noah Gragson won an online fan vote to earn the final transfer spot to the All-Star Race, whose field will include 20 other drivers competing for $1 million over 250 laps Sunday night. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen finished 13th after leading the first 54 laps on the 0.625-mile oval. The New Zealand native, who is in his first full Cup Series season after winning three Supercar championships in Australia, fell from first to sixth on a four-tire pit stop during the halfway caution. 'I don't know whether to smile or cry,' said van Gisbergen, who is ranked 35th in the points standings with one top 10 this season. 'It's been a dismal year for us, but I feel like we're getting better every week. This shows it.' COSTLY PENALTY Ryan Preece finished 11th in the Open after being sent to the rear from second place on a restart with 17 laps remaining. Preece said he unintentionally ran over the commitment line before which drivers must choose whether they are restarting on the inside or outside lane. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's really nonexistent from inside the car,' Preece said. 'You can't see it. I'm frustrated because if you have a situation like that, put a cone out there so we can see it. Our Ford Mustang was super fast, and I think we were the only one that was making some waves. It's heartbreaking to have a run like that taken away.' NASCAR repainted the restart commitment line before the start of the All-Star Race. MORE MONEY The All-Star Race winner's share has been $1 million since the 2003 event, and some drivers have grumbled that an increase for inflation is well overdue. 'I definitely think it should get raised,' 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney said this week. 'That's the only thing about the All-Star Race I'd probably change. I don't want to get greedy, but I think you can raise it to $3 million.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bubba Wallace said he'd suggest $5 million but would be good for a bump to $3 million. 'They've got more TV money, so why not,' Wallace said, referring to NASCAR's media rights raising to $1.1 billion annually in a deal starting this year. UP NEXT The Cup Series will race May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season. Christopher Bell won last year's race, which was shortened from 600 to 374 miles by rain. Kyle Larson missed the 2024 race after arriving late because the Indianapolis 500 was delayed by rain. The Hendrick Motorsports star again will attempt to become the fifth driver to race the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Care for a wager? Head to our sports betting section for news and odds. Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs Sunshine Girls World Toronto Maple Leafs
Fox Sports
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Christopher Bell beats Joey Logano in action-packed NASCAR All-Star Race
Associated Press Christopher Bell passed Joey Logano with nine laps remaining and cruised to victory in an action-packed NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday night. In a slam-bang affair that set a record for lead changes, Bell won by 0.829 seconds over Logano to earn his first All-Star Race victory. Ross Chastain finished third, followed by Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott. Logano elected to stay on track rather than pit during the final yellow. The decision proved to be costly while trying to hold off Bell, who had pitted for two fresh tires. The field was bunched for the final time on Lap 216 with the ' Promoter's Caution,' thrown by two-time Daytona 500 winner and Fox Sports personality Michael Waltrip, who dropped the yellow flag on the track. The gimmick to guarantee a late restart was a sidebar to an eventful race. After lackluster showings in the first two outings on the 0.625-mile oval (including Logano leading 199 of 200 laps to win last year ), the All-Star Race delivered much more action in its third year at North Wilkesboro Speedway. There were 17 lead changes, breaking the mark of 13 (set in 2016) for the most in the event's 41-year history. Pole-sitter Brad Keselowski and Logano traded the lead twice in the first 10 laps and often ran side by side for the lead. There were six leaders and 10 lead changes in the first half of the race, which topped the total number of leaders (four) and lead changes (five) in the past two All-Star Races combined. After leading 62 laps, Keselowski's bid for his first All-Star Race victory ended with a crash on Lap 177. All-Star Open results Capitalizing on pit strategy, Carson Hocevar led the final 46 laps to win the All-Star Open and advance into the NASCAR All-Star Race. Runner-up John Hunter Nemechek also advanced to the main event by finishing second in the 100-lap warmup race. Noah Gragson won an online fan vote to earn the final transfer spot to the All-Star Race, whose field will include 20 other drivers competing for $1 million over 250 laps Sunday night. Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen finished 13th after leading the first 54 laps on the 0.625-mile oval. The New Zealand native, who is in his first full Cup Series season after winning three Supercar championships in Australia, fell from first to sixth on a four-tire pit stop during the halfway caution. 'I don't know whether to smile or cry,' said van Gisbergen, who is ranked 35th in the points standings with one top 10 this season. 'It's been a dismal year for us, but I feel like we're getting better every week. This shows it.' Costly penalty Ryan Preece finished 11th in the Open after being sent to the rear from second place on a restart with 17 laps remaining. Preece said he unintentionally ran over the commitment line before which drivers must choose whether they are restarting on the inside or outside lane. 'It's really nonexistent from inside the car,' Preece said. 'You can't see it. I'm frustrated because if you have a situation like that, put a cone out there so we can see it. Our Ford Mustang was super fast, and I think we were the only one that was making some waves. It's heartbreaking to have a run like that taken away.' NASCAR repainted the restart commitment line before the start of the All-Star Race. More money The All-Star Race winner's share has been $1 million since the 2003 event, and some drivers have grumbled that an increase for inflation is well overdue. 'I definitely think it should get raised,' 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney said this week. 'That's the only thing about the All-Star Race I'd probably change. I don't want to get greedy, but I think you can raise it to $3 million.' Bubba Wallace said he'd suggest $5 million but would be good for a bump to $3 million. 'They've got more TV money, so why not,' Wallace said, referring to NASCAR's media rights raising to $1.1 billion annually in a deal starting this year. Up next The Cup Series will race May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season. Christopher Bell won last year's race, which was shortened from 600 to 374 miles by rain. Kyle Larson missed the 2024 race after arriving late because the Indianapolis 500 was delayed by rain. The Hendrick Motorsports star again will attempt to become the fifth driver to race the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. ___ AP auto racing: recommended
San Francisco Chronicle
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- San Francisco Chronicle
Promoter's Caution could add random layer of chaos in NASCAR All-Star Race
The fate of the NASCAR All-Star Race largely rests on the whims of Marcus Smith, who is giving few hints about how he'll deploy a new 'Promoter's Caution.' It's the latest goofy gimmick in an event defined by annual format changes designed to goose the competition in the name of fender-banging fireworks. At a randomly selected point Sunday night during the first 220 of 250 laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a yellow flag will fly and possibly wipe out a big lead while bunching the field for a race-altering restart. The decision on when to throw the yellow rests solely with Smith, the president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, which owns the 0.625-mile track in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. 'I'll have a very special mystery guest with a little All-Star Race history of his own to help me out when it's time to drop the yellow,' Smith said. 'Hopefully, we'll create a little chaos for the teams and some fun for the fans at the same time.' It's an attempt to restore some luster to the All-Star Race, which has lost touch with its no-holds-barred origins. The past two events at North Wilkesboro produced runaway victories for Kyle Larson and Joey Logano, who led 199 of 200 laps in 2024. The most memorable event last year came after the race when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch engaged in fisticuffs after tangling for a midpack position. It was a far cry from the furious last-lap battles that once sent an All-Star Race winner to the emergency room (Davey Allison suffered a concussion in 1992 after crashing from contact with Kyle Petty at the checkered flag). The Promoter's Caution won't guarantee a slam-bang ending, but it's in the vein of an exhibition race with $1 million but no points at stake. While other pro sports have struggled to keep all-star events relevant, Cup Series drivers pride themselves on competing as hard as they would in a race with championship implications — and sometimes harder. 'The All Star Race is not just another race,' Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell said. 'Everybody is more aggressive than a normal Sunday Cup race. Everyone has that win it or wear it attitude, and it races differently because of that.' A sense of resignation from the All-Star Race's annual format overhauls also makes it easier to accept the inanity of a random yellow. 'I have a hard enough time keeping up with all of the different format stuff,' Team Penske's Austin Cindric said. 'It doesn't really bother me that much that we're going to have a Promoter's Caution because, unless I'm the caution, I can't control it in any way. It's just the racing gods, but maybe they're on earth this time.' Though its timing could cost him a win, Logano is fine with the Promoter's Caution because 'the All-Star Race presents the opportunity to try things outside of the box. 'I don't think we should have a Promoter's Caution in points-paying events,' he said. 'But in this case, we do something different. It's something everyone can talk about. And I just don't know what they're going to do. Are they going to put Marcus in the flag stand, and he's just going to throw a yellow flag?' The son of late NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith, who once lobbied for random yellows as the most bombastic promoter in Cup history, is coy about how the Promoter's Caution will be unveiled. 'I've had no shortage of NASCAR experts from inside and outside of the garage giving me advice on what to do,' Marcus Smith said. 'I've got a couple of scenarios in mind depending on what's happening with the race. Or I could just go spur of the moment with my gut.' Odds and ends Christopher Bell (+350) is the BetMGM Sportsbook favorite, followed by pole-sitter Brad Keselowski (+600), Logano (+650), two-time defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron (+700) and Denny Hamlin (+800). Kyle Larson, who will start last after missing practice and qualifying while attempting to make the Indy 500, is listed at +1000. … After sitting essentially dormant for more than 35 years, North Wilkesboro Speedway is playing host to its third consecutive All-Star Race since a $20 million makeover. Keselowski wants to move a points race from Charlotte Motor Speedway's 'Roval' layout to North Wilkesboro Speedway and shift the All-Star Race back to Charlotte's 1.5-mile oval (the host from 1987-2019). 'This needs to be a points racetrack,' Keselowski said of North Wilkesboro. 'I'm very strong about the Roval has got to go.' ___
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Promoter's Caution could add random layer of chaos in NASCAR All-Star Race
The fate of the NASCAR All-Star Race largely rests on the whims of Marcus Smith, who is giving few hints about how he'll deploy a new 'Promoter's Caution.' It's the latest goofy gimmick in an event defined by annual format changes designed to goose the competition in the name of fender-banging fireworks. At a randomly selected point Sunday night during the first 220 of 250 laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a yellow flag will fly and possibly wipe out a big lead while bunching the field for a race-altering restart. The decision on when to throw the yellow rests solely with Smith, the president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, which owns the 0.625-mile track in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. 'I'll have a very special mystery guest with a little All-Star Race history of his own to help me out when it's time to drop the yellow,' Smith said. 'Hopefully, we'll create a little chaos for the teams and some fun for the fans at the same time.' It's an attempt to restore some luster to the All-Star Race, which has lost touch with its no-holds-barred origins. The past two events at North Wilkesboro produced runaway victories for Kyle Larson and Joey Logano, who led 199 of 200 laps in 2024 . The most memorable event last year came after the race when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch engaged in fisticuffs after tangling for a midpack position. It was a far cry from the furious last-lap battles that once sent an All-Star Race winner to the emergency room (Davey Allison suffered a concussion in 1992 after crashing from contact with Kyle Petty at the checkered flag). The Promoter's Caution won't guarantee a slam-bang ending, but it's in the vein of an exhibition race with $1 million but no points at stake. While other pro sports have struggled to keep all-star events relevant, Cup Series drivers pride themselves on competing as hard as they would in a race with championship implications — and sometimes harder. 'The All Star Race is not just another race,' Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell said. 'Everybody is more aggressive than a normal Sunday Cup race. Everyone has that win it or wear it attitude, and it races differently because of that.' A sense of resignation from the All-Star Race's annual format overhauls also makes it easier to accept the inanity of a random yellow. 'I have a hard enough time keeping up with all of the different format stuff,' Team Penske's Austin Cindric said. 'It doesn't really bother me that much that we're going to have a Promoter's Caution because, unless I'm the caution, I can't control it in any way. It's just the racing gods, but maybe they're on earth this time.' Though its timing could cost him a win, Logano is fine with the Promoter's Caution because 'the All-Star Race presents the opportunity to try things outside of the box. 'I don't think we should have a Promoter's Caution in points-paying events,' he said. 'But in this case, we do something different. It's something everyone can talk about. And I just don't know what they're going to do. Are they going to put Marcus in the flag stand, and he's just going to throw a yellow flag?' The son of late NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith, who once lobbied for random yellows as the most bombastic promoter in Cup history, is coy about how the Promoter's Caution will be unveiled. 'I've had no shortage of NASCAR experts from inside and outside of the garage giving me advice on what to do,' Marcus Smith said. 'I've got a couple of scenarios in mind depending on what's happening with the race. Or I could just go spur of the moment with my gut.' Odds and ends Christopher Bell (+350) is the BetMGM Sportsbook favorite, followed by pole-sitter Brad Keselowski (+600), Logano (+650), two-time defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron (+700) and Denny Hamlin (+800). Kyle Larson, who will start last after missing practice and qualifying while attempting to make the Indy 500 , is listed at +1000. … After sitting essentially dormant for more than 35 years, North Wilkesboro Speedway is playing host to its third consecutive All-Star Race since a $20 million makeover. Keselowski wants to move a points race from Charlotte Motor Speedway's 'Roval' layout to North Wilkesboro Speedway and shift the All-Star Race back to Charlotte's 1.5-mile oval (the host from 1987-2019). 'This needs to be a points racetrack,' Keselowski said of North Wilkesboro. 'I'm very strong about the Roval has got to go.' ___ AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer in Indianapolis contributed to this report. ___ AP auto racing:
Fox Sports
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Promoter's Caution could add random layer of chaos in NASCAR All-Star Race
Associated Press The fate of the NASCAR All-Star Race largely rests on the whims of Marcus Smith, who is giving few hints about how he'll deploy a new 'Promoter's Caution.' It's the latest goofy gimmick in an event defined by annual format changes designed to goose the competition in the name of fender-banging fireworks. At a randomly selected point Sunday night during the first 220 of 250 laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a yellow flag will fly and possibly wipe out a big lead while bunching the field for a race-altering restart. The decision on when to throw the yellow rests solely with Smith, the president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, which owns the 0.625-mile track in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. 'I'll have a very special mystery guest with a little All-Star Race history of his own to help me out when it's time to drop the yellow,' Smith said. 'Hopefully, we'll create a little chaos for the teams and some fun for the fans at the same time.' It's an attempt to restore some luster to the All-Star Race, which has lost touch with its no-holds-barred origins. The past two events at North Wilkesboro produced runaway victories for Kyle Larson and Joey Logano, who led 199 of 200 laps in 2024. The most memorable event last year came after the race when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch engaged in fisticuffs after tangling for a midpack position. It was a far cry from the furious last-lap battles that once sent an All-Star Race winner to the emergency room (Davey Allison suffered a concussion in 1992 after crashing from contact with Kyle Petty at the checkered flag). The Promoter's Caution won't guarantee a slam-bang ending, but it's in the vein of an exhibition race with $1 million but no points at stake. While other pro sports have struggled to keep all-star events relevant, Cup Series drivers pride themselves on competing as hard as they would in a race with championship implications — and sometimes harder. 'The All Star Race is not just another race,' Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell said. 'Everybody is more aggressive than a normal Sunday Cup race. Everyone has that win it or wear it attitude, and it races differently because of that.' A sense of resignation from the All-Star Race's annual format overhauls also makes it easier to accept the inanity of a random yellow. 'I have a hard enough time keeping up with all of the different format stuff,' Team Penske's Austin Cindric said. 'It doesn't really bother me that much that we're going to have a Promoter's Caution because, unless I'm the caution, I can't control it in any way. It's just the racing gods, but maybe they're on earth this time.' Though its timing could cost him a win, Logano is fine with the Promoter's Caution because 'the All-Star Race presents the opportunity to try things outside of the box. 'I don't think we should have a Promoter's Caution in points-paying events,' he said. 'But in this case, we do something different. It's something everyone can talk about. And I just don't know what they're going to do. Are they going to put Marcus in the flag stand, and he's just going to throw a yellow flag?' The son of late NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith, who once lobbied for random yellows as the most bombastic promoter in Cup history, is coy about how the Promoter's Caution will be unveiled. 'I've had no shortage of NASCAR experts from inside and outside of the garage giving me advice on what to do,' Marcus Smith said. 'I've got a couple of scenarios in mind depending on what's happening with the race. Or I could just go spur of the moment with my gut.' Odds and ends Christopher Bell (+350) is the BetMGM Sportsbook favorite, followed by pole-sitter Brad Keselowski (+600), Logano (+650), two-time defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron (+700) and Denny Hamlin (+800). Kyle Larson, who will start last after missing practice and qualifying while attempting to make the Indy 500, is listed at +1000. … After sitting essentially dormant for more than 35 years, North Wilkesboro Speedway is playing host to its third consecutive All-Star Race since a $20 million makeover. Keselowski wants to move a points race from Charlotte Motor Speedway's 'Roval' layout to North Wilkesboro Speedway and shift the All-Star Race back to Charlotte's 1.5-mile oval (the host from 1987-2019). 'This needs to be a points racetrack,' Keselowski said of North Wilkesboro. 'I'm very strong about the Roval has got to go.' ___ AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer in Indianapolis contributed to this report. ___ AP auto racing: recommended
