Three Drivers Look Forward to Homestead-Miami Speedway Championship

Following the NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, the 16-driver field for the 10-race Chase is set.

The NASCAR Cup Series champion will be crowned Nov. 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The South Dade News Leader participated in a Zoom media availability Monday, Aug. 31, with Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske and the Chase’s No. 2 seed; Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing and the No. 3 seed; and Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports and the No. 12 seed.

Their remarks have been edited for clarity and length.

The drivers were first asked about the championship race’s return to Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“I think if you asked any driver across all three garages what they think about Miami, everyone loves it,” Blaney said.

“The racetrack is not only a unique-shaped mile-and-a-half, but everyone knows the surface is really worn out.

“How can you run the wall efficiently versus being able to run the wall but being slow? How do you run off the wall properly and pass? If everyone is just ripping the fence, you’re not going to go anywhere.

“It’s just a super-unique place. How do you manage your stuff? All of us in this meeting grew up having a Homestead championship weekend. The return of the championship brought back a lot of nostalgia, and I’m really excited to be back in Homestead.

“We’ve seen a lot of electric finishes there, and I’m sure you’re going to see another one this year.”

Hocevar agreed with Blaney’s assessment.

“I pretty much echo everything Ryan said,” Hocevar said. “I couldn’t have said it better. I like the Homestead area, and I like going to Florida. I enjoy that as well as the racing.”

Reddick also has a long history at the track.

“It’s a great time down there,” Reddick said.

“For years and years, it’s where we would end the season, and for me personally, I love that it’s back as the final race in the Chase.

“I’ve had to go in there with a lot of pressure a number of years in my career. I had to win Homestead to continue in the Chase in 2024.”

Reddick won O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championships at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2018 and 2019.

“I’ve had to do it a number of times in my career,” Reddick said. “I love that it’s where it is in the Chase.”

The first Chase race is scheduled for Sept. 6 at Darlington Raceway. The drivers also were asked how their mindsets change when preparing for a 10-race championship run.

“I don’t know if your mindset changes too much,” Blaney said.

“You’re always trying to be consistent and make no mistakes. The old format rewarded winning because a win could save you in the rounds.

“This Chase rewards consistency throughout the 10 weeks. You can’t have a bad race. You can’t have a failure or get in a wreck. You have to maximize every single week.

“There are a lot of contenders. There are probably 10 or 12 guys who can realistically win this championship. It’s going to come down to who can execute and put together the best 10 weeks.”

Hocevar said the Chase represents an important milestone for Spire Motorsports.

“This is the first Cup Chase for the whole company,” Hocevar said. “There are roughly 200 people, and this is their first experience with it. We want to enjoy it and take it all in.

“Luke Lambert, the No. 77 crew chief, has been through the Chase before and has a lot of experience. We will lean on that. The biggest thing is playing the cards we’re dealt and maximizing every weekend.”

Reddick said every point will matter under the Chase format.

“You’re going to have to get everything you can,” Reddick said.

“Stage points will be important. The fastest-lap bonus will be important. Winning races is obviously important.

“The teams that can fight through failures or mistakes and still get something out of the day are going to be the teams that remain in it.

“Stage performance will matter a lot. There will be movers and shakers throughout these 10 races. We saw at Pocono how quickly the points could change, so you have to stay after it every week.”

In the second part of this story, the drivers discuss Toyota’s strong regular-season performance, what each believes he must prove during the Chase and how NASCAR’s rules package could affect the upcoming race at Talladega Superspeedway.