NASCAR Championship Playoffs Return to Homestead-Miami Speedway this Weekend

The NASCAR Championship Playoffs return to Homestead Miami Speedway (HMS) this weekend, with Craftsman Trucks and Xfinity cars racing on Saturday, and the Cup Race on Sunday. Each of the three series are in their Playoff Round of 8, with only one driver in each series locked into the Final Four to race for the Championships at Phoenix. The remaining drivers eligible for the Championship have only the races at Homestead and the next week at Martinsville to secure a spot by winning, or amassing, enough points.

Racing action begins on Friday afternoon with Craftsman Trucks and Xfinity practices and qualifying starting at 2:35 pm. Saturday kicks off with Cup practice beginning at 9:05 am. Qualifying follows, beginning at 9:50 am. The Baptist Health 200 Craftsman Truck Race begins at noon, with Corey Heim, Christian Eckes, and Ty Majeski above the cutoff line on points. Rajah Caruth, Taylor Grey, Nick Sanchez, and Tyler Ankrum are below the line. Grant Enfinger with his win at Talladega in the first race of the Round of 8 is locked in to race for the Championship. Nick Sanchez is a Miami native, who began his racing career competing in go karts at Homestead Miami.

On Saturday at 4 pm, the Credit One NASCAR AMEX Credit Card 300 also kicks off. Of the eight Championship contenders, AJ Allmendinger, based on his win last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, is locked into the Final Four at Phoenix. Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer (last year’s Xfinity Champion), and Chandler Smith are above the cut line. Austin Hill, Jesse Love, last years’ Homestead winner Sam Mayer, and Sammy Smith are scored below the cut line.

The Straight Talk Wireless 400 will begin at 2:30 pm on Sunday afternoon. With his win last weekend in Las Vegas, Joey Lagono will be racing for the Championship in Phoenix. Lagono won his first Cup Championship at Homestead in 2018 and was also the 2022 Champ. Last years’ HMS winner Christopher Bell, (Kyle Larson Cup Champ in 2021 and HMS winner in 2022) and William Byron, who won at Homestead in 2021, have enough points to be above the cut line. Denny Hamlin, who has won at HMS three times, Tyler Reddick, last years’ Cup Champion Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliot the 2020 Champ, are all below the cutoff.

Outside of the cup Championship Playoffs, two veteran drivers have particular incentives to win on Sunday. Kyle Busch has a streak of 19 straight seasons with a Cup win. Winless so far this year, he has only Homestead-Miami, Martinsville, and Phoenix to continue this run. Busch has won twice at Homestead in 2015 and 2019. Martin Truex Jr. is in his last full-time season. Adding a win at HMS to his 2017 win would be a great way to move to part time racing. '

In addition to great racing, throughout the weekend, fans will have lots more to enjoy. The Fan Zone, with performances, interactive experiences for both kids and adults, and driver and other celebrity appearances, will open at 9:00 am Saturday and at 10:30 am thru 2:30 pm on Sunday. Sunday on the Front Stretch, entertainment will be headlined by Miami Producer and DJ Cedric Gervais, with his set starting at 12:30 pm. This will be Cedric’s second year in a row headlining at HMS.

For ticket and event information go to the track’s website https://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com and watch for full race coverage in next week’s News Leader.