NASCAR News: Homestead Cup, Xfinity & Truck weekend Preview

All three NASCAR National Series (Cup, Xfinity and Trucks) are in action this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway as the NASCAR Playoff races continue.

NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Straight Talk Wireless 400

The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway

Track Type: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval

The Date: Sunday, October 27

The Time: 2:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $7,997,594

TV: NBC, 2 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)

South Florida is ready to heat up an already spicy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs

Shining under the beautiful South Florida sun is the 1.5-mile, progressively banked Homestead-Miami Speedway, the big stage for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ second race of the Round of 8, the Straight Talk Wireless 400, this Sunday, October 27 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

With a role of the dice last weekend in Las Vegas, Team Penske’s Joey Logano and the No. 22 Ford team persevered, holding-off Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, while managing their fuel mileage to become the first driver and team to earn a spot in the Championship 4 Round, leaving just three positions still up for grabs heading into Sunday at Miami.

Logano entered the Round of 8 race at Las Vegas last weekend ranked eighth in the Playoff standings, and with his win, he leap-frogs the field to the top of the leaderboard earning the first spot in the Championship 4 Round and becomes the NASCAR Cup Series leader in Championship 4 Round appearances with six (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024).

2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings Outlook
*Following Las Vegas Motor Speedway – October 20, 2024*
*Round of 8 – Race No. 7 of 10*
Rank	Driver	Vehicle	Points	Race Wins	Stage Wins	Playoff Pts	+/- Cutoff
1	Joey Logano	22	4,061	3	2	12	In On Wins
2	Christopher Bell	20	4,086	3	11	32	42
3	Kyle Larson	5	4,079	6	12	52	35
4	William Byron	24	4,071	3	2	23	27
5	Denny Hamlin	11	4,044	3	6	15	-27
6	Tyler Reddick	45	4,041	2	5	29	-30
7	Ryan Blaney	12	4,024	2	4	19	-47
8	Chase Elliott	9	4,018	1	1	14	-53
9	Alex Bowman	48	2,232	1	1	0	Eliminated From Playoffs
10	Martin Truex Jr.	19	2,194	0	4	0
11	Austin Cindric	2	2,179	1	4	0
12	Daniel Suarez	99	2,164	1	1	0
13	Ty Gibbs	54	2,162	0	2	0
14	Brad Keselowski	6	2,127	1	0	0
15	Chase Briscoe	14	2,121	1	0	0
16	Harrison Burton	21	2,087	1	0	0

Spinning the tires in Logano’s wake is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell in second in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings outlook, up +42 points of the Championship 4 Round cut line. Hendrick Motorsports’ teammates Kyle Larson (in third, up +35 points) and William Byron (in fourth, up +27 points) round out the top four above the Championship 4 Round cutoff, in third and fourth, respectively.

Mired in the points below the Championship 4 Round cut line are Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin in fifth, -27 points back from Bryon. Regular Season Champion and 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick is in sixth, -30 points back from Byron in fourth. Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, the defending series champion, is seventh, -47 points back from the Championship 4 Round cutoff and Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott is eighth, back -53 points.

Though not impossible, the drivers below the cutline after Las Vegas have a mountain of points to climb to move on. Only one driver in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs since the introduction of the elimination-style format in 2014, has pointed into the Championship 4 Round from 20 or more points below the cutline after the first race of the Round of 8, and that was Martin Truex Jr. (-22 points in 2021). All four drivers below the cutline after Las Vegas this season are at least 27 points back.

Interestingly, in each of the past five seasons, at least one driver from below the cutline after the first Round of 8 race has made the Championship 4 Round. Three eventual Cup champions won their way into the Championship 4 Round from below the cutline after the first Round of 8 race (Ryan Blaney in 2023, Chase Elliott in 2020, and Kevin Harvick in 2014).

Lock-It Up: Clinch Scenarios for Homestead-Miami Speedway

Homestead-Miami Speedway is serving-up one of two more chances in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 8 for the drivers and teams to lock themselves into the Championship 4 Round, below are this weekend’s clinch scenarios:

Already Clinched

The following driver has clinched a spot in the 4-driver field of the next round: Joey Logano.

Can Clinch Via Points

If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 3rd winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Christopher Bell or Kyle Larson.

Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help
Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from William Byron or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 2nd winless driver in the standings.

Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott

Homestead-Miami Speedway’s place in the Playoffs

Great racing is what Homestead-Miami Speedway is known for. That’s why it isn’t too surprising that South Florida’s 1.5-mile racing mecca has been a staple in the NACAR Cup Series Playoffs almost every year.

This season will be the 19th-year Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race (2004-2019, 2022-2024).

Prior to the 2022 season, Homestead-Miami Speedway hosted the season finale race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs from 2004-2019 (16 straight races).

Then in 2020 and 2021, Homestead-Miami Speedway did not participate in the Playoffs and instead hosted regular season races those seasons.

The 2024 season marks the third-time (2022-2024) Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ – the second-race in the Round of 8 (Race No. 34 of the season).

A total of 13 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, led by Greg Biffle with three postseason victories (2004-2006) at the 1.5-mile track in South Florida.

Denny Hamlin (2009, 2013) and Kyle Busch (2015, 2019) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in victories in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Homestead-Miami Speedway with two postseason wins each.

This season four of the eight active NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers are previous winners at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the series – Denny Hamlin (2009, 2013), Christopher Bell (2023), Kyle Larson (2021) and Joey Logano (2018).

Homestead-Miami Speedway NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race Winners
Date	Race Winners	Crew Chief	Organization	Race No.
Sunday, November 21, 2004	Greg Biffle	Doug Richert	RFK Racing	36
Sunday, November 20, 2005	Greg Biffle	Doug Richert	RFK Racing	36
Sunday, November 19, 2006	Greg Biffle	Doug Richert	RFK Racing	36
Sunday, November 18, 2007	Matt Kenseth	Robbie Reiser	RFK Racing	36
Sunday, November 16, 2008	Carl Edwards	Bob Osborne	RFK Racing	36
Sunday, November 22, 2009	Denny Hamlin	Mike Ford	Joe Gibbs Racing	36
Sunday, November 21, 2010	Carl Edwards	Bob Osborne	RFK Racing	36
Sunday, November 20, 2011	Tony Stewart	Darian Grubb	Stewart-Haas Racing	36
Sunday, November 18, 2012	Jeff Gordon	Alan Gustafson	Hendrick Motorsports	36
Sunday, November 17, 2013	Denny Hamlin	Darian Grubb	Joe Gibbs Racing	36
Sunday, November 16, 2014	Kevin Harvick	Rodney Childers	Stewart-Haas Racing	36
Sunday, November 22, 2015	Kyle Busch	Adam Stevens	Joe Gibbs Racing	36
Sunday, November 20, 2016	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports	36
Sunday, November 19, 2017	Martin Truex Jr	Cole Pearn	Furniture Row Racing	36
Sunday, November 18, 2018	Joey Logano	Todd Gordon	Team Penske	36
Sunday, November 17, 2019	Kyle Busch	Adam Stevens	Joe Gibbs Racing	36
Sunday, October 23, 2022	Kyle Larson	Cliff Daniels	Hendrick Motorsports	34
Sunday, October 22, 2023	Christopher Bell	Adam Stevens	Joe Gibbs Racing	34

Non-Playoff drivers have won the Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway four times: 2004, 2006, 2013, 2022.

Greg Biffle won the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was ranked 21st in the point standings at the time of the win.

Greg Biffle won the 2006 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was ranked 13th in the point standings at the time of the win.

Denny Hamlin won the 2013 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was ranked 23rd in the point standings at the time of the win.

Kyle Larson won the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was ranked ninth in the point standings at the time of the win. Larson was eliminated from the Playoffs in the Round of 12 in 2022.

During the Playoff Era (2004-Present) in the Cup Series, the winner of the Homestead-Miami Speedway Playoff race also won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same season seven times: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

In 2011, NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart won from the 15th starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway, then the final race in the Playoffs, and as a result secured his third-career NASCAR Cup Series championship (2002, 2005, 2011).

In 2014, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick won from the fifth starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the first year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result won his first NASCAR Cup Series title. Homestead-Miami hosted the final race of the season in 2014.

In 2015, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch won from the third starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the second year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he won his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. Homestead-Miami hosted the final race of the season in 2015.

In 2016, Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson won from the 14th starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the third year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he tied NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the series-most titles with seven each. Homestead-Miami hosted the final race of the season in 2016.

In 2017, Furniture Row Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. won from the second starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the fourth year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs. Homestead-Miami Speedway hosted the Championship race that season and as a result he won his first series championship with the win.

In 2018, Team Penske’s Joey Logano won from the fifth starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the fifth year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he won his first series championship. Homestead-Miami hosted the final race of the season in 2018.

In 2019, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch won from the fourth starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the sixth year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he won his second NASCAR Cup Series championship, becoming one of only two active drivers with multiple titles (2015, 2019). Homestead-Miami hosted the final race of the season in 2019.

The worst finish in a NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race by the eventual series champion at Homestead-Miami Speedway is 18th and it has occurred once, by Joey Logano in 2022.

Last season, Ryan Blaney finished runner-up at Homestead-Miami Speedway, then the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and went on to win his first series championship that same season.

Plus, a total of 12 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, led by Adam Stevens (2015, 2019, 2023) and Doug Richert (2004, 2005, 2006) with three victories each.

A total of six different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, led by RFK Racing with six victories (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010).

But, since the introduction of the elimination-style format in 2014, Joe Gibbs Racing has scored the most Playoff race wins at Homestead-Miami Speedway with three (2015, 2019 and 2023).

In addition, all three official OEMs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, led by Ford with seven wins, followed by Toyota with six and Chevrolet with five.

Eighth race in the Playoffs has been the key to a title for some

Homestead-Miami Speedway (2022-2024) is the fourth different track to host the eighth-race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; joining Phoenix Raceway (one race: 2004), Texas Motor Speedway (16 races: 2005-2020), and Kansas Speedway (one race: 2021).

A total of 10 different drivers have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson with five victories – all at Texas Motor Speedway: 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.

Kyle Larson leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in victories in the eighth race of the Playoffs with two postseason wins (Kansas in 2021 and Homestead-Miami in 2022).

This season three of the eight active NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers are previous winners in the eighth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – Denny Hamlin (Texas, 2010), Kyle Larson (Kansas, 2021 and Homestead-Miami, 2022) and Christopher Bell (Homestead-Miami, 2023).

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race No. 8 Winners (2004-2023)
Date	Track	Race Winners	Crew Chief	Organization
Sunday, November 7, 2004	Phoenix	Dale Earnhardt Jr	Tony Eury Sr.	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Sunday, November 6, 2005	Texas	Carl Edwards	Bob Osborne	RFK Racing
Sunday, November 5, 2006	Texas	Tony Stewart	Greg Zipadelli	Joe Gibbs Racing
Sunday, November 4, 2007	Texas	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports
Sunday, November 2, 2008	Texas	Carl Edwards	Bob Osborne	RFK Racing
Sunday, November 8, 2009	Texas	Kurt Busch	Pat Tryson	Team Penske
Sunday, November 7, 2010	Texas	Denny Hamlin	Mike Ford	Joe Gibbs Racing
Sunday, November 6, 2011	Texas	Tony Stewart	Darian Grubb	Stewart-Haas Racing
Sunday, November 4, 2012	Texas	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports
Sunday, November 3, 2013	Texas	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports
Sunday, November 2, 2014	Texas	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports
Sunday, November 8, 2015	Texas	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports
Sunday, November 6, 2016	Texas	Carl Edwards	Dave Rogers	Joe Gibbs Racing
Sunday, November 5, 2017	Texas	Kevin Harvick	Rodney Childers	Stewart-Haas Racing
Sunday, November 4, 2018	Texas	Kevin Harvick	Rodney Childers	Stewart-Haas Racing
Sunday, November 3, 2019	Texas	Kevin Harvick	Rodney Childers	Stewart-Haas Racing
Sunday, October 25, 2020	Texas	Kyle Busch	Adam Stevens	Joe Gibbs Racing
Sunday, October 24, 2021	Kansas	Kyle Larson	Cliff Daniels	Hendrick Motorsports
Sunday, October 23, 2022	Homestead	Kyle Larson	Cliff Daniels	Hendrick Motorsports
Sunday, October 22, 2023	Homestead	Christopher Bell	Adam Stevens	Joe Gibbs Racing

Non-Playoff drivers have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs five times – four times at Texas Motor Speedway: 2006, 2014, 2015, 2020; and once at Homestead-Miami Speedway: 2022.

Tony Stewart won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2006, and he was ranked 11th in the point standings at the time of the win (Playoff field was only 10 drivers in 2006).

Jimmie Johnson won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2014, and he was ranked 11th in points at the time of the win. Johnson was eliminated from the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 12.

Jimmie Johnson won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2015, and he was 12th in points at the time of the win. Johnson was eliminated from the 2015 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 16.

Kyle Busch won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2020, and he was ninth in points at the time of the win. Busch was eliminated from the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 12.

Kyle Larson won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2022, and he was ninth in points at the time of the win. Larson was eliminated from the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 12.

Four times the winner of the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the title later that same season – three times at Texas Motor Speedway (2007, 2011, 2013) and once at Kansas Speedway (2021).

In 2007, Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson won from the eighth starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. The Playoff win at Texas was his third of four consecutive victories in the 2007 Playoffs – the only driver to win four straight in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, Phoenix).

In 2011, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Tony Stewart won from the fifth starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship later that season (2002, 2005, 2011). The Texas Playoff win was Stewart’s fourth of his record setting five NASCAR Cup Series Playoff wins in a single postseason run in 2011 (Chicago, New Hampshire, Martinsville, Texas, Homestead-Miami).

In 2013, Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his sixth NASCAR Cup Series championship later that season. The Texas Playoff win was Johnson’s second of two postseason victories (Dover, Texas) in 2013.

In 2021, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson won from the first starting position at Kansas Speedway and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that same season. The Kansas Playoff win was Larson’s fourth of his five postseason wins in 2021 (Bristol, Charlotte RC, Texas, Kansas, Phoenix); tying NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart’s record for the most Playoff wins in a single Playoff run with five each.

The worst finish in the eighth NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race by a driver that went on to win the title that same season was:

At Phoenix Raceway it was 10th by Kurt Busch in 2004.
At Texas Motor Speedway it was 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2009.
At Kansas Speedway it was first by Kyle Larson in 2021.
At Homestead-Miami Speedway it was 18th by Joey Logano in 2022.

A total of 11 different crew chiefs have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004-2023), led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Chad Knaus with five victories (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 – all at Texas Motor Speedway with driver Jimmie Johnson).

Stewart-Haas Racing’s crew chief Rodney Childers leads all active crew chiefs in wins in the eighth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with three victories (2017, 2018, 2019 – all at Texas Motor Speedway with driver Kevin Harvick).

A total of six different organizations have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by Hendrick Motorsports with seven victories at three different tracks (Texas: 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015; Kansas: 2021; Homestead: 2022). And since the introduction of the elimination-style format in 2014, Hendrick Motorsports has scored the most wins in the eighth race of the Playoffs with four (2014, 2015 at Texas, 2021 at Kansas and 2022 at Homestead-Miami).

In addition, four OEMs have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by Chevrolet with 10 wins, followed by Ford with five, Toyota with four and Dodge with one.

All of the NASCAR Cup Series on-track activity this weekend will get going with practice and Busch Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday, October 26 at 9 a.m. ET and can be caught on the NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Joey Logano looks to become only active fulltime three-time Cup champion

It’s an exclusive list with just nine names on it all-time, and currently, none of the active fulltime drivers have earned a spot on the prestigious list of champions that have earned three or more NASCAR Cup Series titles. But now that Team Penske’s Joey Logano has earned a spot in the Championship 4 Round this season, he has a big opportunity to change that.

“There’s a lot of pride in making it to the Championship Four,” said Logano, who has secured his series leading sixth Championship 4 Round berth. “It’s tough, right? A long year, you got to get through a lot of different scenarios, a lot of curve balls that are thrown your way. It’s hard, right? Making it is something to be proud of, there’s no doubt. … But it’s all about maximizing the opportunity that’s ahead of us. As proud as I am that we’ve made it, I also feel like the job’s far from being over.”

If Logano (2018, 2022) were to win the title this season and score his third championship, he would become the 10th different driver with three or more championships in the NASCAR Cup Series all-time (1949-2024), and would tie NASCAR Hall of Famers and three-time champions Tony Stewart (2002, 2005, 2011), Darrell Waltrip (1981, 1982, 1985), Cale Yarborough (1976, 1977, 1978), David Pearson (1966, 1968, 1969) and Lee Petty (1954, 1958, 1959) in titles.

Below is a look at all nine of the drivers to win three or more NASCAR Cup Series Championships:

Drivers with Three or More Championships (1949-2023)
Rank	No. of Titles	Champions	Years
1	7	Jimmie Johnson	2016, ‘13, ’10, ‘09, ‘08, ‘07, ‘06
		Dale Earnhardt	1994, ’93, ‘91, ‘90, ‘87, ‘86, ‘80
		Richard Petty	1979, ‘75, ‘74, ‘72, ‘71, ‘67, ‘64
4	4	Jeff Gordon	2001, ‘98, ‘97, ‘95
5	3	Tony Stewart	2011, ‘05, ‘02
		Darrell Waltrip	1985, ‘82, ‘81
		Cale Yarborough	1978, ‘77, ‘76
		David Pearson	1969, ‘68, ‘66
		Lee Petty	1959, ‘58, ‘54

Outside Looking In: Bell, Reddick, Blaney and Buescher are below the cutline

With the first race in the books of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 8 and two races to go, the postseason contenders below the Championship 4 Round cutline – Denny Hamlin (-27), Tyler Reddick (-30), Ryan Blaney (-47) and Chase Elliott (-53) – have quite the challenge set before them as they try to earn their position in the final round.

Below is a quick look at each of the drivers ranked fifth to eighth in the Playoff standings.

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

Has advanced to the Championship 4 Round four times in his career (2021, ’20, ’19, ’14).

2024 Rundown:

Fifth in the Playoff standings, -27 points back from the Championship 4 Round cut line

Three wins, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s, four poles

Laps Led: 922 laps

Average Finish of 14.6

Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.3

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

Three wins, five top fives, 12 top 10s, three poles

Average Finish of 10.895, fourth-best

Average Running Position of 11.021, fifth-best

Driver Rating of 98.1, fourth-best

3,785 Laps in the Top 15 (74.6%), fourth-most

Tyler Reddick (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota)

Is looking to advance to the Championship 4 Round for the first-time in his career.

2024 Rundown:

Two wins, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s, two poles

Laps Led: 506 laps

Average Finish of 13.1

Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.4

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

Three top fives, three top 10s

Average Finish of 11.000, fifth-best

Average Running Position of 11.442, sixth-best

Driver Rating of 96.3, sixth-best

756 Laps in the Top 15 (70.8%), 10th-most

Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford)

Has advanced to the Championship 4 Round once in his career (2023).

2024 Rundown:

Two wins, nine top fives, 16 top 10s, one pole

Laps Led: 476 laps

Average Finish of 16.3

Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.2

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

Two top fives, two top 10s

Average Finish of 16.778, 17th-best

Average Running Position of 14.505, 14th-best

Driver Rating of 84.6, 12th-best

1,550 Laps in the Top 15 (64.5%), 13th-most

Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

Has advanced to the Championship 4 Round three times in his career (2022, ‘21, ‘20).

2024 Rundown:

One win, 10 top fives, 17 top 10s

Laps Led: 214 laps

Average Finish of 12.1

Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.8

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

Two top fives, three top 10s

Average Finish of 10.375, third-best

Average Running Position of 10.986, fourth-best

Driver Rating of 90.7, ninth-best

1,625 Laps in the Top 15 (76.0%), third-most

A little Homestead-Miami Speedway history

Groundbreaking for Homestead-Miami Dade Motorsports Complex – as the track was originally named – began August 23, 1994, thanks to Ralph Sanchez, a long-time promotor of street races in the area. The 600-acre sporting facility, at the time was owned by city of Homestead and was leased by Sanchez.

The original configuration of Homestead-Miami Speedway was a four-turn, rectangular-shaped paved oval based on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s layout.

The first race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway was a NASCAR Xfinity Series event on November 5, 1995. The inaugural Xfinity Series race was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett. Jarrett owned the No. 32 Ford he won the race in, and he only led the last two laps of the event. The average speed of the race was 92.229 MPH.

The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway was held on November 14, 1999. The inaugural Cup Series race was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, driving a Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac. The average speed of the race was 140.335 MPH.

International Speedway Corporation became the sole owner of Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2001.

The 2002 season was the first year the Championship Weekend was held at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with all three of NASCAR’s national series holding their season finale at the same track. The track would host the season finale from 2002-2019.

In 2003, the track underwent a major reconfiguration from what was a flat 1.5-mile rectangular-shaped track to a 1.5-mile asphalt oval with progressive banking in the turns.

The 2019 season was the last time all three NASCAR national series held the Championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In total, there have been 25 NASCAR Cup Series races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, one per season since 1999.

Who to keep an eye on at Homestead-Miami Speedway

A total of 16 different drivers have won the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and five of the 16 have won multiple poles.

This weekend, four of the 16 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be active, and three of the four are Playoff contenders (Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and William Byron):

Active Homestead-Miami Pole Winners	Poles	Seasons
Denny Hamlin	3	2018, 2017, 2015
Martin Truex Jr	1	2023
William Byron	1	2022
Joey Logano	1	2012

A total of 17 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and five of the 17 drivers have won more than once at the 1.5-mile track.

This weekend, seven of the 17 NASCAR Cup Series race winners at Homestead-Miami Speedway are active, and five of the seven are current Playoff drivers (Hamlin, Bell, Byron, Larson and Logano).

Active Race Winners (7)	Wins	Seasons
Denny Hamlin	3	2020, ’13, ’09
Kyle Busch	2	2019, ’15
Christopher Bell	1	2023
Kyle Larson	1	2022
William Byron	1	2021
Joey Logano	1	2018
Martin Truex Jr	1	2017

Final Four: A look at the Playoffs’ best to make the Championship 4 Round

This season just one driver has secured their spot in the Championship 4 Round of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (Joey Logano), but let’s take a look at who has previously earned a spot throughout the years in the prestigious and exclusive round that grants the postseason contenders that one shot at the title.

Since inception of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2014, just 16 different drivers have earned a spot in the Championship 4 Round, with nine of the 16 securing multiple appearances in the final round.

Team Penske’s Joey Logano leads all Cup drivers with six Championship 4 Round appearances (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024), having locked up this year’s spot with his win at Las Vegas last weekend.

NCS Championship 4 Round Appearances
Rank	Appearances	Drivers (16)	Years
1	6	Joey Logano	2024, ’22, ’20, ’18, ’16, ’14
2	5	Martin Truex Jr.	2021, ’19, ’18, ’17, ’15
3		Kyle Busch	2019, ’18, ’17, ’16, ’15
4		Kevin Harvick	2019, ’18, ’17, ’15, ’14
5	4	Denny Hamlin	2021, ’20, ’19, ’14
6	3	Chase Elliott	2022, ’21 ’20
7	2	Christopher Bell	2023, ’22
8		Kyle Larson	2023, ’21
9		Brad Keselowski	2020, ’17
10	1	Ryan Blaney	2023
11		William Byron	2023
12		Ross Chastain	2022
13		Jimmie Johnson	2016
14		Carl Edwards	2016
15		Jeff Gordon	2015
16		Ryan Newman	2014

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin with four Championship 4 appearances (2021, ’20, ’19, ’14) has the opportunity to earn his fifth appearance and tie Martin Truex Jr. (2021, ’19, ’18, ’17, ’15), Kyle Busch (2019, ’18, ’17, ’16, ’15) and Kevin Harvick (2019, ’18, ’17, ’15, ’14) for the second-most appearances all-time.

The record for the youngest driver to earn a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 Round is held by Joey Logano, who earned his first appearance in the Championship Four in 2014 at the age of 24 years, 5 months and 23 days.

The second youngest to make the Championship Four was Chase Elliott in 2020 at the age of 24 years, 11 months and 11 days.

The record for the oldest driver to earn a spot in the Championship 4 Round is held by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, who earned his spot at the age of 44 years, 3 months and 18 days.

This season, only one of the eight drivers vying for a spot in the Championship 4 Round is looking to make his first appearance in the final round – Tyler Reddick. And coincidentally, Reddick’s crew chief Billy Scott is the only crew chief in the Round of 8 to have not earned a spot in the Championship 4 Round before in his career.

Of the seven crew chiefs in this season’s Round of 8 with previous Championship 4 Round experience, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Adam Stevens has earned the most appearances in the final round with seven, followed by Hendrick Motorsport’s Alan Gustafson with four, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chris Gabehart and Team Penske’s Paul Wolfe each have three, Hendrick Motorsport’s Cliff Daniels with two, and Team Penske’s Jonathan Hassler and Hendrick Motorsport’s Rudy Fugle each have one appearance.

Also in total, seven organizations have qualified for the Championship 4 Round in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2014-2023. Joe Gibbs Racing leads the NASCAR Cup Series in number of appearances they have earned in the Championship 4 Round with 14.

Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports are tied for the most NASCAR Cup Series drivers to earn a spot in the Championship 4 Round with five drivers each.

NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Championship 4 Round Appearances by Organization (2014-2024)

Organizations	Appearances	Driver’s Last Name
Joe Gibbs Racing	14	Ky. Busch (5), Hamlin (4), Bell (2), Truex Jr. (2), Edwards (1)
Team Penske	9	Logano (6), Keselowski (2), Blaney (1)
Hendrick Motorsports	8	C. Elliott (3), Larson (2), Gordon (1), Johnson (1), Byron (1)
Stewart-Haas Racing	5	Harvick (5)
Furniture Row Racing	3	Truex Jr. (3)
Richard Childress Racing	1	Newman (1)
Trackhouse Racing	1	Chastain (1)

*Note – Team Penske is the only organization this season with a driver (Joey Logano) with a secured appearance in the 2024 Championship 4 Round that is reflected in the above chart.

Each season four spots are available in the Championship 4 Round in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and from 2014 to 2023, Joe Gibbs Racing has secured 14 of the possible 40 total Championship 4 Round spots (35%).

NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.

Paul Wolfe takes lead on active Crew Chief wins list – With their big win last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to lock themselves into the Championship 4 Round, driver Joey Logano and crew chief Paul Wolfe have plenty to celebrate heading into this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway; including the fact that Wolfe has now moved into the lead on the NASCAR Cup Series wins list by active crew chiefs with 41 victories.

Rank	Fulltime Active Crew Chief	Wins
1	Paul Wolfe	41
2	Rodney Childers	40
3	Alan Gustafson	39
4	Adam Stevens	37
5	Cliff Daniels	23

Wolfe began his Cup career in 2011 and has earned all 41 wins working with just two drivers: Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.

NASCAR Cup Series milestones to watch for this season – Below is a look at some of the anticipated NASCAR Cup Series milestones to watch for this season.

Driver Starts (300 or more)

Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in career starts with 711 starts, followed by Martin Truex Jr. (690), Denny Hamlin (683), Joey Logano (576), Brad Keselowski (554), Michael McDowell (498), A.J. Allmendinger (446), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (433), Austin Dillon (405), Kyle Larson (363), Ryan Blaney (339), Chris Buescher (326), Alex Bowman (322) and Chase Elliott (319).

William Byron is expected to make his 250th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Michael McDowell is expected to make his 500th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Martinsville Speedway.

Driver Wins (10 or more)

Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in career wins with 63 victories, followed by Denny Hamlin (54), Brad Keselowski (36), Joey Logano (35), Martin Truex Jr. (34), Kyle Larson (29), Chase Elliott (19), William Byron (13) and Ryan Blaney (12).

Denny Hamlin currently has 54 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time wins list with 55 victories each.

Brad Keselowski currently has 36 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Bobby Isaac for 23rd on the all-time wins list with 37 victories each.

Driver Poles (10 or more)

Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in career poles with 44 poles, followed by Kyle Busch (34), Joey Logano (31), Martin Truex Jr. (23), Kyle Larson (21), Brad Keselowski (18), William Byron (13), Christopher Bell (13), Chase Elliott (12), and Ryan Blaney (10).

Denny Hamlin currently has 44 NASCAR Cup Series poles, if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker for 12th on the all-time pole winners list with 45 poles each.

Kyle Busch currently has 34 NASCAR Cup Series poles, if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett for 21st on the all-time pole winners list with 35 poles each.

Joey Logano currently has 31 NASCAR Cup Series poles (tied with Kevin Harvick), if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famers Fireball Roberts and Fred Lorenzen for 24th on the all-time pole winners list with 32 poles each.

Martin Truex Jr. currently has 23 NASCAR Cup Series poles (tied with Ken Schrader and Jack Smith), if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki for 33rd on the all-time pole winners list with 24 poles each.

Active Organization Wins

Hendrick Motorsports leads all active NASCAR Cup Series organizations in wins with 312, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing (214), Team Penske (145), RFK Racing (143), Richard Childress Racing (117), Wood Brothers Racing (100), Stewart-Haas Racing (70), Trackhouse Racing (8), 23XI Racing (7), Front Row Motorsports (4), JTG Daugherty Racing (3), Kaulig Racing (2), Spire Motorsports (1).

Manufacturer Wins

In total 16 different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Chevrolet with 865 victories, and followed by Ford (733), Dodge (213), Plymouth (189), Toyota (188), Pontiac (154), Oldsmobile (96), Mercury (93), Buick (65), Hudson (58), Chrysler (54), American Motor Company (5), Lincoln (3), Studebaker (2), Jaguar (1) and Nash Motor Company (1).

Toyota currently has 188 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if a Toyota driver were to win this weekend, the manufacturer would tie Pontiac (189 wins) for the fourth-most wins in NASCAR Cup Series history with 189 each.

Crew Member Spotlight: Homestead-Miami Speedway – This weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway we wanted to highlight several of the team’s crew members that are from the surrounding areas of the track in Florida.

FLORIDA
CREW MEMBER	ORGANIZATION	TEAM	ROLE	HOMETOWN
Shane Greer	Richard Childress Racing	3	Competitions IT Manager	Jacksonville, FL
Brian Walsh	Hendrick Motorsports	5, 9, 24, 48	Network Security Engineer/ RF Specialist	Sebastian, FL
Johnny Roberts	RFK Racing	6	Front Tire Changer	Titusville, FL
Robert Braucht	Rick Ware Racing	15	Gasman	Daytona Beach, Florida
JR Houston	23XI Racing	23	Strategy Engineer	Myakka City, Florida
Brandon McSwain	Hendrick Motorsports	24	Race Engineer	Auburndale, FL
Ben Proctor	Hendrick Motorsports	24	Engine Tuner	Lakeland, FL
Michael Fisher	Front Row Motorsports	34	Spotter	Pensacola, FL
Robert Benzenhafer	Front Row Motorsports	38	Interior Specialist, Tire specialist	Niceville, FL
Kapil Fletcher	Stewart-Haas Racing	41	Jackman	Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kevin Teaf	Stewart-Haas Racing	41	Rear Tire Changer	Leesburg, Florida
Chris Shuman	Legacy Motor Club	42	Rear Tire Changer	St. Augustine, FL
Matt Schlytter	Legacy Motor Club	42	Jackman	Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Thomas Hatcher	Legacy Motor Club	43	Front Tire Changer	Middleburg, FL
Ray Hernandez	Legacy Motor Club	43	Fueler	Orlando, FL
Billy Scott	23XI Racing	45	Crew Chief	Land O’ Lakes, FL
Tab Boyd	JTG Daugherty Racing	47	Spotter	Pensacola, Florida
Greg Donlin	JTG Daugherty Racing	47	Rear Tire Changer	Zephyrhills, FL
Nick McBeath	Joe Gibbs Racing	54	Carrier	Miami, FL
Dustyn Presgraves	Trackhouse Racing	99	Engine Tuner	Floyd, FL

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300

The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway

Track Type: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval

The Date: Saturday, October 26

The Time: 4 p.m. ET

The Purse: $1,496,850

TV: CW, 3:30 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)

Setting the stage in South Beach: Homestead-Miami Speedway up next

Following the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in a double-header, action-packed Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the NASCAR Xfinity Series sets its sights on the Credit One NASCAR AMEX Credit Card 300 on October 26 at 3:30 p.m. ET on the CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio – the second race in the Playoffs’ Round of 8.

The 1.5-mile South Florida track, Homestead-Miami Speedway, has hosted 30 NASCAR Xfinity Series races since the inaugural event in 1995, producing 23 different race winners and almost as many pole winners (21).

Only five of the 30 Xfinity races have been won from the pole or first starting position at Homestead-Miami, most recently by Harrison Burton in 2020.

A few drivers have etched their names in the Homestead-Miami Speedway record book:

Most wins: Joe Nemechek (three)
Most top fives: Kyle Busch and Mark Martin (seven)
Most top 10s: Matt Kenseth (10)
Laps led: Kyle Busch (487)

This will be the third time that Homestead-Miami Speedway plays host to the fifth race in the Xfinity Series Playoffs (second race in the Round of 8). From 2016 to 2019, the track was home to the Championship Race. Daniel Suárez (2016), William Byron (2017) and Tyler Reddick (2018, 2019), took the checkered flags in those seasons. In 2020 and 2021, the track was not a Playoff track but was on the regular season schedule.

Only two previous Homestead-Miami winners are entered in this weekend’s Credit One NASCAR AMEX Credit Card 300 – Cole Custer (2017) and Sam Mayer (2023).

Custer, who is in Playoff contention, snagged his win in 2017, beating runner-up Sam Hornish Jr. by 15.405 seconds and leading 182 of the 200 laps.

Mayer, who is also in Playoff contention, posted his win last season and locked himself into the Championship 4 Round for the first time in his career.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will kick off their weekend on Friday, October 25 with practice and qualifying at 4:30 p.m. ET streamed on the NBC Sports App.

Diving into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff bubble

With a win by Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he has now clinched a spot into the Championship 4 Round and sits atop the Playoff standings outlook heading into Homestead-Miami.

The other three drivers currently above the Championship 4 Round cut line are JR Motorsports Justin Allgaier (+32), Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer (+16) and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chandler Smith (+8).

Just outside the final round’s cut line are Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill (-8), followed by his RCR teammate Jesse Love (-13), and JR Motorsports teammates Sam Mayer (-23) and Sammy Smith (-53).

NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Playoff Projection Following Las Vegas Motor Speedway – 10/19/2024
Rank	Driver	Vehicle	Points	Race Wins	Stage Wins	Playoff Pts	+/- Cutoff
1	AJ Allmendinger	16	3,063	1	2	7	In On Wins
2	Justin Allgaier	7	3,088	2	16	35	32
3	Cole Custer	00	3,072	2	4	28	16
4	Chandler Smith	81	3,064	2	7	25	8
5	Austin Hill	21	3,056	3	4	26	-8
6	Jesse Love	2	3,051	1	4	13	-13
7	Sam Mayer	1	3,041	3	2	17	-23
8	Sammy Smith	8	3,011	1	0	6	-53

Xfinity Clinch Scenarios: Homestead-Miami Speedway

NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff drivers have two more opportunities (Homestead-Miami and Martinsville) to prove they have what it takes to compete for the title at Phoenix Raceway on November 10.

Last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Round of 8 opener, Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger raced his way into Victory Lane and clinched his spot in the Championship 4 Round – the first driver to lock himself into the final round.

Let’s take a look at how the remaining seven drivers look as they head into Miami:

Already Clinched

The following driver has clinched a spot in the 4-driver field of the next round: AJ Allmendinger.

Can Clinch Via Points

Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help
Cole Custer: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from Chandler Smith or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 2nd winless driver in the standings.

Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, Jesse Love, Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith.

Scouting the Xfinity Series Playoffs’ Round of 8 field at Miami

As the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff drivers get ready to head to South Florida to continue their postseason campaigns, let’s see how they have performed on the famous 1.5-mile track just outside of Miami.

A.J. Allmendinger

Allmendinger has made four starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway posting two top fives, two top 10s and has led 49 laps. Though he has already clinched his spot this season, Allmendinger has one previous appearance in the Championship 4 Round (2021) prior to this year.

Justin Allgaier

Allgaier has made 15 starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway (most among Playoff contenders) posting three top 10s and has led 15 laps. Allgaier leads the Xfinity Series in Championship 4 Round appearances with six (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023) – series-most.

Cole Custer

Custer has made five starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway posting one win (2017), three top fives, three top 10s and has led 406 laps. Custer, the reigning series champion, has three previous Championship 4 Round appearances (2018, 2019, 2023).

Chandler Smith

Smith has made two starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway posting one top-10 finish. Smith is looking to make the Championship 4 Round for the first time in his Xfinity Series career.

Austin Hill

Hill has made two starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway posting one top five, two top 10s and has led 19 laps. Hill is looking to make the Championship 4 Round for the first time in his Xfinity Series career.

Jesse Love:

Love will be making his Xfinity Series track debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. Love is also hoping to make the Championship 4 Round for the first time in his Xfinity Series career. If Love were to earn a spot in the Championship 4 Round, he would become the sixth different rookie to make an appearance in the final round; joining Erik Jones (2016), William Byron (2017), Daniel Hemric (2017), Christopher Bell (2018) and Tyler Reddick (2018).

Sam Mayer

Mayer has made two starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway posting one win (2023), two top fives, two top 10s and has led 46 laps. Mayer is looking to make the Championship 4 Round for the second-time in his Xfinity Series career (2023).

Sammy Smith

Smith has made one start at Homestead-Miami Speedway posting a ninth-place finish (2023). Smith is looking to make the Championship 4 Round for the first time in his Xfinity Series career.

NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.

Joe Gibbs Racing announces William Sawalich to run fulltime Xfinity Series season in 2025 – Two-time ARCA Menards Series East Champion William Sawalich will be joining Joe Gibbs Racing behind the wheel of the No. 18 Toyota Supra in 2025. Plus, Sawalich will make his debut in the series this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“I am honored to be driving the No. 18 fulltime in the Xfinity Series next year,” Sawalich said. “It has been really cool to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing, and I feel like I have developed so much as a driver over the past two years. I still have a lot to learn, especially with moving to a new series, so I am looking forward to taking this next step in racing.”

Sawalich finished the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East season with his second consecutive series championship after posting three wins, seven top fives and four poles.

“We are thrilled to announce William’s promotion to the next stage of his racing career with us,” said Steve de Souza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Development at JGR. “His outstanding record of victories and development over the past two years shows he’s ready for the Xfinity Series. We’re confident he’ll remain a strong contender for wins as he takes on this new challenge in 2025.”

DGM Racing announces Ryan Ellis to run full Xfinity Series season in 2025 – DGM Racing announced this week that Ryan Ellis will serve as their full-time driver for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Ellis will make his debut with the family-owned racing organization, based out of Lake Wales, Florida, in the season-opener race at DGM Racing’s home track Daytona International Speedway with sponsorship from Classic Collision.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ryan to our family and looking forward to advancing our Xfinity program together. Solidifying next year’s season this early on is huge for our small team,” team owner Mario Gosselin. “Having the resources this soon gives us the opportunity to upgrade some of our equipment and start preparing in a way we have been unable to in prior seasons, which I believe will result in our best on track performance.”

Ellis, a native of Ashburn, Virginia, has always had a passion for motorsports. He began his racing career in karting at the young age of four, quickly transitioning to stock cars and showcasing his talent in various regional and national touring series as he collected many wins and championships along the way.

“Chatting with Mario about his plans for the program in 2025 convinced me that joining DGM was something I couldn’t pass up. He’s a racer, and his enthusiasm was immediately contagious,” Ellis states. “I have so much respect for what the Gosselin family has built, and I hope that we can turn some heads together next year. I’ve seen just how high the potential is at DGM, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Next Race: Baptist Health 200

The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway

Track Type: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval

The Date: Saturday, October 26

The Time: 12 p.m. ET

The Purse: $769,881

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)

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series kicks off doubleheader Saturday in South Florida

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Baptist Health 200, the second race of the Round of 8, on Saturday, October 26 at 12 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio – the first of a two-race slate with the NASCAR Xfinity Series later that afternoon (4 p.m. ET).

The 1.5-mile oval South Florida track, Homestead-Miami Speedway, has hosted 27 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races since its inaugural Truck Series event on March 17, 1996 – a race won by Dave Rezendes piloting the No. 7 Geoffrey Bodine Motorsports Ford.

Notably, there have been 24 different race winners in the Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kyle Busch leads the series with three wins in South Florida. Four races have been won from the pole, most recently by Chase Briscoe in 2017.

Here’s a closer look at the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series veterans who have inscribed their name in the Homestead-Miami Speedway record books:

Race record: Chase Briscoe 135.556 mph (11/17/2017)
Qualifying record: Jon Wood 173.188 mph (11/16/2007)
Most races: Matt Crafton (22)
Most poles: David Reutimann, Joe Ruttman, and Mike Skinner (3)
Most wins: Kyle Busch (3)
Most top fives: Jack Sprague (8)
Most top 10s: Matt Crafton (14)
Laps led: Kyle Busch (394)

On-track activity for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway kicks off with practice at 2:35 p.m. followed by Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying at 3:05 p.m. EST on Friday, October 25.

Hallowed Grounds: A look at the Playoff history at Homestead-Miami

The 2024 season marks the first time Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted the second race in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Round of 8.

During the Playoff Era (2016-Present) the 1.5-mile track has played host to the Round of 8 finale the past two seasons (2022-2023), and it was home to the Championship Race from 2016-2019 before landing a spot on the regular season schedule for 2020-2021 seasons.

Of those six previous races, only three Playoff drivers have visited Victory Lane: Brett Moffitt (2018), Ty Majeski (2022), and Carson Hocevar (2023). Brett Moffitt is the only driver to have won the championship.

NCTS Playoff Race Winners at Homestead-Miami (2016-2023)
Date	Race Winner	Season	Race No.
Friday, November 18, 2016	William Byron	2016	23
Friday, November 17, 2017	Chase Briscoe	2017	23
Friday, November 16, 2018	Brett Moffitt *	2018	23
Friday, November 15, 2019	Austin Hill	2019	23
Saturday, October 22, 2022	Ty Majeski *	2022	22
Saturday, October 21, 2023	Carson Hocevar *	2023	22

Approaching Homestead: Playoff Contender’s Career Performances

As the competitors jump back into action at Homestead this weekend, the pressure to survive and advance to the coveted Championship 4 Round increases. A win at the 1.5-mile oval by a Playoff contender would guarantee their spot.

All Playoff drivers have given Homestead-Miami Speedway a go in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, making this weekend that much more intense.

Here’s a look at how our eighth Playoff drivers have performed at Homestead previously.

Rank	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish
1	Grant Enfinger (P)	7	1	0	2	4	0	10.7
2	Corey Heim (P)	2	0	0	2	2	0	4.0
3	Christian Eckes (P)	4	0	0	1	3	0	9.5
4	Ty Majeski (P)	3	0	1	1	3	0	6.7
5	Rajah Caruth (P)	1	0	0	0	1	0	8.0
6	Taylor Gray (P)	1	0	0	0	0	0	13.0
7	Nick Sanchez (P)	1	1	0	0	0	0	17.0
8	Tyler Ankrum (P)	4	0	0	1	1	0	15.0

Of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff field, Ty Majeski is the only previous winner.

Down to the Wire: Caruth, Gray, Sanchez, and Ankrum outside Championship 4 cutline

With one spot in the Championship 4 Round secured by Grant Enfinger, the rest of the competitors are certainly starting to feel the heat. As the Round of 8 finale is one week closer, the drivers currently sitting below the cutline are Rajah Caruth (-5), Taylor Gray (-13), Nick Sanchez (-20), and Tyler Ankrum (-23).

In his first Playoff appearance, Spire Motorsport’s Rajah Caruth finished fourth at Talladega Superspeedway and left the 2.66-mile paved oval five points back from the Championship 4 cutline.

Another driver in his first Playoff appearance below the cutline is TRICON Garage’s Taylor Gray. Despite finishing second at ‘Dega, the 19-year-old is 13 points back from the final transfer position.

Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez had a rough day at Talladega finishing 22nd after starting on the front row. The driver of the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet now sits 20 points back from the cutline. The 23-year-old made it to the Round of 8 for a second consecutive season. As the Miami, Florida native returns to his home track, he hopes to capture the checkered flag and secure his spot in the Championship 4 for the first time.

McAnally-Hilgemann’s Tyler Ankrum heads to Homestead ranked eighth in the Playoff stands – 23 points back from the fourth and final spot in the Championship 4 Round.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Outlook Following Talladega Superspeedway (October 4, 2024)

Rank	Driver	Points	Starts	Race Wins	Stage Wins	Playoff Pts	+/- Cutoff
1	Grant Enfinger (P)	3,066	20	1	2	7	In On Win
2	Corey Heim (P)	3,078	20	6	8	48	30
3	Christian Eckes (P)	3,077	20	3	9	39	29
4	Ty Majeski (P)	3,053	20	2	6	24	5
5	Rajah Caruth (P)	3,048	20	1	1	10	-5
6	Taylor Gray (P)	3,040	20	0	0	3	-13
7	Nick Sanchez (P)	3,033	20	2	1	18	-20
8	Tyler Ankrum (P)	3,030	20	0	2	7	-23

Time Is Ticking’: Clinch Scenarios for Homestead Miami Speedway

Only two races remain in the Round of 8 for the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff contenders to clinch their spot in the Championship 4 Round. Here are the clinch scenarios for this weekend:

Already Clinched

The following driver has clinched a spot in the 4-driver field of the next round: Grant Enfinger.

Can Clinch Via Points

Corey Heim: Could only clinch with help
Christian Eckes: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from Ty Majeski or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 2nd winless driver in the standings.

Corey Heim: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Corey Heim, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth, Taylor Gray, Nicholas Sanchez, Tyler Ankrum.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.

Frankie Muniz to join Reaume Brothers Racing full-time in 2025 – Frankie Muniz will be the full-time driver of the No. 33 Ford for Reaume Brothers Racing for the 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season.

Muniz has made two starts with Reaume Brothers Racing this season (Nashville, Kansas), and with two races remaining, he aims to continue building chemistry with the team and developing his notebook for the upcoming year.

“I’m incredibly excited to join Reaume Brothers Racing full-time in 2025,” Muniz said. “My longstanding relationship with Ford has been a game changer, and I am thrilled to help facilitate additional support allowing us to tap into their exceptional technical and engineering resources. I’m confident that this synergy will elevate Reaume Brothers Racing and help us achieve great things together. I can’t wait to get started.”

Muniz’s last full-time effort took place in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023, where he collected one top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, culminating in a fourth-place points finish in the standings.

Muniz joined Ford Performance in 2023 and has since competed in limited races in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Mustang Challenge Series.

Dawson Sutton promoted to full-time in 2025 – Dawson Sutton will drive for Rackley W.A.R. full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2025. Sutton is expected to pilot the No. 26 Chevrolet.

The 18-year-old made his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut earlier this season at North Wilkesboro. Recently, the team announced that the Lebanon, Tennessee native would assume the role of primary driver of the No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet beginning at Kansas where he recorded his career-best finish of fifth.

“This is really a phenomenal opportunity,” Sutton said. “I’ve dreamed for this day to come, and my goal is to make it to the NASCAR Cup Series that represents the best of the best. It’s all a little hard to believe right now, but I know a have a big job to do and that’s exactly how I look at it.”

“I really don’t think there’s anything he can’t do,” said Rackley W.A.R. team co-owner Willie Allen. “He has a great work ethic; he doesn’t take any of this for granted. He works hard to be the best he can be no matter what the situation. He’s had a short learning curve in everything he’s attempted, and I don’t see any reason that wouldn’t continue in the [NASCAR CRAFTSMAN] Truck Series. We place a lot of confidence in him to represent this team and any of our partners very well going forward.”