NASCAR All-Star Race takeaways: North Wilkesboro delivers

Here are three takeaways from the All-Star Race:

Christopher Bell's $1 million win punctuates thrilling All-Star Race

Unlike the last two editions of the All-Star Race at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway that featured dominant performances from the winners and few battles throughout the field, Sunday's race was the complete opposite.

While Logano led a race-high 139 laps, a decision to come to pit road after the new promoter's caution came out with 35 laps to go gave Bell the advantage he needed. He chased Logano down and ran him high in Turns 1 and 2 before taking the lead and pulling away to win by 0.829 seconds.

Bell, who led 28 laps, was a part of the 18 lead changes during the race as drivers were able to run multiple lanes all night. With so much negativity surrounding the current short track package, Sunday night's All-Star Race was encouraging and should put North Wilkesboro in the conversation for a much-deserved points-paying race.

Kyle Larson's rally from the back ends with disappointment

With Larson preparing for next weekend's Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double, his schedule did not allow him to be present at North Wilkesboro for practice or qualifying. After qualifying 21st for the Indianapolis 500, Larson made the trip to race for $1 million, but had to start at the tail of the field.

Larson methodically worked his way up to seventh by Lap 151 of the 250-lap event. He took over the race lead after a two-tire call on Lap 178 and was still running third with 36 laps to go when he hit the wall in Turn 2 and faded to a 21st-place finish in the 23-car field.

Even with no laps in the car this weekend before Sunday, Larson once again demonstrated his immense talent behind the wheel. He will now turn his attention back to Indianapolis for practice before attempting to complete both marquee races next Sunday, one year after weather prevented him from doing so.

The hits keep coming for Brad Keselowski

After winning his first career pole in the All-Star Race and leading 62 laps, Keselowski appeared to be heading toward a breakthrough performance this season. That was not the case when he lost control in Turns 3 and 4 and hit the wall while running ninth.

While his 22nd-place finish in the exhibition race does not affect his points position, it compounds what has already been a trying season for the driver/owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.

He has yet to score a top-10 finish through the first 12 points-paying races and enters the Coca-Cola 600 in search of a turnaround. On the bright side, Keselowski had speed at North Wilkesboro, which shows the potential is there if he can capitalize on the pace in his No. 6 Ford.