“There’s always your doubters. There’s always your haters. But you know what? This one’s for Rowdy Nation because you guys are the best.” This is how Kyle Busch reacted after clinching his second NASCAR Cup Series title at Homestead-Miami in 2019. It was a masterclass in resilience. The rain had wiped out practice and qualifying, leaving him to start fourth among the Championship 4 contenders.
But under the bright Florida lights, he won the race by leading 120 of 267 laps. His dominant drive silenced critics who had doubted his ability to finish strong after a 21-race winless streak leading into the finale. While Busch and his No. 18 team celebrated the win, little did anyone know that this would be the last championship race at Homestead-Miami—at least for now. In 2020, NASCAR moved the finale to Phoenix Raceway, shifting the sport’s most important race to the Arizona desert.
At first, the change seemed like a business-driven decision—new facilities, financial incentives, and a push to expand the sport’s West Coast presence. But as years passed, it became clear that something was missing. Now, as NASCAR moves for triple header racing week at Homestead-Miami there are talks of Homestead’s return as the championship venue. But is it possible for NASCAR to make a comeback at the iconic venue for the season finale?
A tourism deal dictates the NASCAR championship race venue!
For nearly two decades, Homestead-Miami Speedway was the perfect setting for a championship race. The track’s unique progressive banking allowed drivers to run multiple lanes, and the high tire wear put a premium on skill and strategy. Yet, despite its racing quality, Homestead lost the finale to Phoenix. The reason? Business and politics. When NASCAR decided to move the season finale, Phoenix had just undergone a $178 million renovation.
It made Phoenix one of the most modern venues on the calendar. Meanwhile, Arizona’s tourism board agreed to pay NASCAR $1.5 million annually for 30 years to promote races in Phoenix. From NASCAR’s perspective, the investment needed to bring Homestead up to the same standard simply wasn’t there. Another reason was the location and market reach. NASCAR aimed to grow its fanbase on the West Coast, and Phoenix’s proximity to major TV markets like Los Angeles and Las Vegas made it an attractive choice.
The time zone also allowed for better prime-time TV ratings, which played a crucial role in the decision. Meanwhile, South Florida’s unpredictable November weather, combined with a local fan base that often-showed lukewarm interest, made Homestead a tougher sell. All these reasons helped NASCAR to push Phoenix as venue for the biggest race of the season. But it played back at NASCAR and led to loss of connect among fans.
In the last five years, NASCAR has struggled to put up a show in Phoenix. The lack of passing opportunities has made it a predictable and boring race. While it crowns the champions NASCAR often struggles with viewership numbers from those races. Additionally, the design and performance cap of Next Gen car limits the ability to create thrilling on-track battles, particularly at short ovals like Phoenix. But as far as NASCAR is concerned, moving the championship out of Phoenix is tough, and while they could consider rotating the finale, Miami isn’t confirmed to take up that spot.
“It’s going to be hard to replicate if we were to move. I would not limit something just to Miami if we were to rotate it. I think you’d have a broader look at venues that could host a championship but short term we’re in Phoenix.” NASCAR COO, Steve O’Donnell said. But, still, the fans and drivers couldn’t help but highlight the limitations NASCAR has with current plans at the Dessert Mile.
According to the Athletic only 42% fans found 2024 championship race enjoyable as Joey Logano clinched his third title. Former NASCAR crew chief Steve Letarte had called it a ‘boring’ race. “This one was a little sleepy, right? Like a second of fall off wasn’t really enough,” he told media. Veteran driver Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch have already called out the next gen car and its performance at Phoenix Speedway. But despite the disagreements and uncertainty, Homestead is seen as the preferred choice if NASCAR were to move the championship race.
Why Homestead could win back the championship finale?
But now, as NASCAR looks toward 2026 and beyond, the argument for bringing the championship back to Miami is gaining momentum. Homestead still offers some of the best intermediate-track racing on the schedule, and many believe Phoenix has failed to deliver the kind of thrilling finales NASCAR hoped for. Many drivers are openly stating that Homestead is one of their favourite tracks.
Recently, 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney summed it up best. “I think everyone loves Homestead. It’s one of the most fun places we go to.” William Byron echoed those sentiments, and many others agree that the track rewards pure driving talent. Unlike Phoenix, where track position and clean air often dictate the outcome, Homestead is a different beast. We saw what happened last year during the playoff race when Tyler Reddick pulled off perhaps the best passing move of the 2024 season.
First of all, we all know that NASCAR is a fan-first sport. The unwavering fan support is what dictates the dates and continuity of a race at a racetrack. But in its final years, Homestead-Miami had failed to get the desired number of fans at the racing track. NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell also believes that track would need to step up and shower their love on the sport. While speaking about the return of the championship race at Homestead-Miami O’Donnell had said, “I would say that in March when we go back [to Homestead], how do we do from an attendance standpoint? That’s going to be really big for us to see.”
While this might be secondary thing but the efforts and promotions being conducted by NASCAR officials and track officials are just amazing. New track president Guillermo Santa Cruz has prioritized strengthening ties with the South Florida community, particularly the large Hispanic market that NASCAR has struggled to connect with. Santa Cruz, a Miami native with experience at Telemundo and Univision, has worked to position Homestead as more than just a racetrack.
Local government officials are also pushing hard to bring the championship race back. Homestead Vice Mayor Sean Fletcher is leading an effort to secure financial incentives that would match Phoenix’s tourism deal. “I want to see the championship come back. And I’m hopeful in the not-too-distant future that will happen,” Santa Cruz said.
Notably, a motion passed by the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners in March signals growing political and economic support for the move. Fletcher estimates that a championship race would bring a $350 million economic boost to the area, strengthening NASCAR’s case to return. “We are in very high hopes that Homestead will be the championship host for 2026,” Fletcher said.
Additionally, there’s also a growing push for a rotating championship venue, a concept NASCAR has considered in recent years. This plan lets different tracks, including Homestead, host the finale on a rotating basis. Phoenix would no longer have a permanent hold on the event. For now, Miami must prove itself. Strong attendance, solid financial backing, and local engagement can force NASCAR to bring the championship finale back where it belongs.
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