There are just two chances left for NASCAR Cup Series drivers to qualify for the Championship 4 and have a shot at the Championship. The first of those is in Miami this Sunday. The Dixie Vodka 400 on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is the second race in the Round of 8 and the third-to-last race of the season.
And any driver can be in if they win. Joey Logano demonstrated that last weekend with his win at Las Vegas.
While every driver has a chance, Logano’s the only driver who can be relaxed. Second place Ross Chastain is only twelve points above the cutline, and far from locked in on points. Regular Season Champion Chase Elliott sits third and the standings, and Denny Hamlin is the only other driver coming in above the cutline. At least one driver will make the Championship 4 on points, though, so those drivers will be looking to hold on to their advantage.
Hamlin has the most wins of anyone at this track with three. He also has the second-best average finish, 10th, behind just Chase Elliott. Joey Logano and William Byron have also found Victory Lane at Homestead.
“I’m looking forward to Homestead,” said Hamlin. “I feel like the driver can make a difference just with the different lines you can run, so I think that fits into our strength on top of just how strong we have been on these types of tracks this year.”
Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Blaney are all below the cutline but in striking distance. Christopher Bell, on the other hand, sits 23 points behind after being collected in a wreck between Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson, and once again is in the hole in the Playoffs. Last time that happened, though, he won a clutch race at the Roval.
“As disappointing as Vegas was, if anyone can pull through it’s our Number 20 group,” Bell said. “I expect to be extremely competitive again and am ready to tackle the challenge.”
Bubba Wallace was suspended for one race for intentional wrecking after the incident that affected Bell, and he’ll be replaced in the 45 car by John Hunter Nemechek.
Expect some unique racing from the Next Gen car here as it faces a track type it hasn’t quite seen yet. Homestead is known to put on a show, though, as veteran Aric Almirola knows well.
“I think it’s going to be a whole new set of learning this weekend,” he said. “You know you have to run the top and there are different lanes than the tracks we have run this year. You saw some guys running the wall in Vegas and you saw that the car could take a little more beating, so I think you’re going to see a lot of guys pushing it up on the wall.”
Still, teams have some idea of what to expect with the new car here. In the September test, Team Penske’s Austin Cindric was fastest followed by teammate Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin. Fellow Playoff contender Christopher Bell rounded out the top five in the test.
Practice and Busch Light Pole Qualifying will be Saturday at 10 a.m. ET and fans can watch on the NBC Sports App.
Xfinity Series ramps up the pressure in Miami
Only Josh Berry has advanced to the Championship 4 ahead Saturday’s Contender Boats 300 (4:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Like the Cup Series, the Xfinity drivers will be competing in the second race of the Round of 8.
It’ll be Berry’s first Championship 4 appearance after scoring a milestone win at Vegas last week. Noah Gragson, who’s won the most races this season, holds the points lead heading into Miami, followed by Ty Gibbs and Justin Allgaier.
Behind them by fifteen and sixteen points respectively are Austin Hill and AJ Allmendinger. A bad Vegas result puts Allmendinger behind the eight ball. Brandon Jones and Berry’s teammate Sam Mayer trail their competitors by a larger margin.
None of the Playoff drivers have won at Homestead before, although Gragson’s three top-fives is the best result of the group.
“I love running at Homestead-Miami Speedway and really want a win there,” Gragson said. “Right now, it’s all about getting into the Championship 4 and winning a championship.”
Practice starts at 6:05 p.m. ET on Friday followed by qualifying at 6:35 p.m. ET on the USA Network and streamed on the NBC Sports App.
Truck Series sets the Championship 4 at Homestead
The Truck Series is hosting an elimination race this weekend. Saturday’s Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway ( p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will set the field for the Championship 4.
Only Ty Majeski is locked in with a win. Chandler Smith, Zane Smith and defending champion Ben Rhodes are ahead of the cutline heading in, but not by much.
Christian Eckes and Stewart Friesen are tied just three points below the cutline, and John Hunter Nemechek is just five points back. Grant Enfinger trails behind with a 29-point deficit.
None of the drivers in the Playoff field have ever found victory lane at Homestead, but Nemechek and Enfinger have both finished second, the best finish of all Playoff drivers at the track.
Practice begins at 4 p.m. ET on Friday followed by Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying at 4:30 p.m. ET.
NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Dixie Vodka 400
The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway
The Date: Sunday, October 23
The Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $7,342,738
TV: NBC, 1:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 80),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 165), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 267)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Contender Boats 300
The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway
The Date: Saturday, October 22
The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,392,256
TV: USA, 4 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 300 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: Baptist Health 200
The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway
The Date: Saturday, October 22
The Time: 1 p.m. ET
The Purse: $721,227
TV: FS1, 12 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 201 miles (134 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)
- Sam Mayer scores Xfinity win by an inch in photo finish at Texas - April 13, 2024
- NASCAR adds Stories to its app for social-style highlights - April 10, 2024
- Hendrick Motorsports paints victory lane ruby red at Martinsville - April 7, 2024