Keselowski, Bell Win All-Star Heat Races With Tire Strategy

Brad Keselowski takes the checkered flag at North Wilkesboro Speedway Saturday. (Scotte Sprinkle/Race Face Digital photo)

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. – Brad Keselowski and Christopher Bell won their respective heat races for the NASCAR All-Star Race on Saturday at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Twin 75-lap heat races determined the starting line-up for the All-Star Race, the first heat setting the inside lane and the second heat setting the outside lane.

Keselowski won the pole in Friday’s Busch Light Pole Qualifying session, locking him into the first starting spot for Sunday, regardless of where he finished in his heat.

However, Keselowski still led all but one lap and won his heat. At the competition caution on lap 30, Keselowski was one of four to stay out and not pit for fresh tires. William Byron and Ross Chastain both pitted for fresh tires under the yellow, and caught Keselowski quickly after the restart.

Byron was the first to try to take the lead from Keselowski, but was unable to complete the pass on the inside and fell back into the clutches of Chastain. Chastain got past Byron and started to battle Keselowski for the lead as the run wore on.

Again, Keselowski held strong on the outside and didn’t let Chastain get past. Once Chastain spent around 10 laps battling, he fell back just like Byron. Keselowski held on to win his heat race, and Chastain and Byron battled side-by-side for second, with Chastain finishing runner-up.

“Yeah, it doesn’t hurt,” Keselowski said afterward when asked if the heat race win helps them for Sunday’s $1 million-to-win finale.

“It’s been a good two days for everyone on this [No.] 6 crew, and I’m hopeful the other two cars can have good runs [in] the [second] heat race and the Open so that we can [have] a great day tomorrow. It’s good to be starting up front with the Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang and to be running fast. This is a lot of fun right now.”

Christopher Bell takes the checkered flag to win heat race two at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (Scotte Sprinkle/Race Face Digital photo)

Bell won the second heat race after starting first in it. The field stayed single file and spaced apart until the competition yellow on lap 30. Bell pitted from the lead, along with everyone else except Chase Briscoe, who was running second and elected to stay out.

Bell and Austin Cindric took right side tires only, and everyone else who pitted took four.

Briscoe led on the restart, but Bell quickly got past him. Briscoe dropped like a rock, and off turn four, he spun after contact from Daniel Suarez. Bell restarted from the lead and stayed there the rest of the race, winning his heat to earn a front row start in Sunday’s All-Star Race.

“Maybe the Mobil 1 Camry is a million-dollar Camry,” Bell said after his win. “It’s feeling really good. The guys did an amazing job on just making the car better overnight and it was really refreshing to get out there and just cruise those first 30 laps. This thing was on rails.

“I’m really happy and excited about the opportunity we have in front of us tomorrow.”

The different strategies that unfolded are something to take note of heading into Sunday. Joey Logano won the race last year by only pitting once, and was for a mandatory four-tire pit stop.

At halfway, Logano and a few others stayed out while most pitted. Bell stayed out with Logano and ended up finishing 17th in the 2024 All-Star Race.

“I don't know. It's just so tough to say,” Bell said when asked if tire strategy might come into play tomorrow. “I was on the same strategy with Joey and ended up finishing last. So, it seems like if you stay out, you really, really, really need to keep the lead. We saw the same thing in heat race one, where Brad was able to win the race on the old tires, but Tyler Reddick, who had old tires, fell way back. It's a very, very tough decision.

“I’m thankful that I'm not in the crew chief’s box because it's tough. And you know that whatever you do, your opponents are going to do the opposite.”

Of note, Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet did not its heat race Saturday, with driver Kyle Larson at Indianapolis Motor Speedway qualifying for next Sunday’s 109th Indianapolis 500.

Larson earned the 21st starting spot for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing and will be in North Wilkesboro Sunday night, starting from the rear of the All-Star Race field in hopes of winning the $1 million prize for the second time in three years.

The NASCAR All-Star Race is Sunday, May 18 at 8 p.m. EST on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, with the All-Star Open preceding at 5:30 p.m. ET for the drivers not currently locked into the All-Star Race.