What defines a true championship race? A high-pressure showdown, a track that demands skill, or an unpredictable surface that tests both driver and machine? Homestead-Miami Speedway served as the final test for almost 20 years, during which champions emerged and title prospects diminished. Its finales felt exaggerated, from Jimmie Johnson’s sixth title in 2016 to Tony Stewart’s 2011 surge. Its legacy lives on today.
“Man, I told them—give me a race car that will keep me in the hunt, and I’ll do the rest,” Tony Stewart said after his legendary 2011 title-clinching win at Homestead. In an erratic, high-stress situation that shaped Homestead’s history, he passed 118 cars that evening and defeated Carl Edwards on a race wins tiebreaker to win the championship. However, as the sport progressed, the venue for the finale changed to Phoenix, but rumors of its resurgence are becoming more widespread.
Homestead-Miami Speedway was a championship venue unlike any other
Homestead-Miami Speedway characterized the NASCAR Cup Series championship with its multi-groove racing and dramatic finales. However, the title race has been held at Phoenix Raceway since 2020 and its appropriateness is still up for dispute. That argument now has fresh meat. William Byron suggested that Homestead might recapture its championship race in a recent interview with Frontstretch. His remark has raised questions about NASCAR’s plans, whether it was a slip or a tease.
Byron was questioned before the Homestead race about whether he liked the track as the season finale or in the spring. He gave a straightforward and illuminating response. “Well, we won here when it was in the spring. That was good, hopefully, that will happen again. But yeah, I think it’s due for hopefully being the final race. It sounds like that’s what’s gonna happen.” Byron said. “We have been in the top five most of the time but just gotta get a little bit better,” Byron acknowledged.
He supports Homestead because it fits with his success there, not just because he likes it. He has continuously been a contender at the track and dominated for a victory in 2021. However, Byron’s remarks have stoked rumors that NASCAR is thinking about hosting the championship at Homestead again. Although he didn’t explicitly acknowledge it, his language suggested that things might alter in the future.
“It’s due for being the final race. It sounds like that’s what’s going to happen.”@WilliamByron is in favor of returning championship to Miami. @AJDinger explains how he’s improved at Homestead, and @RossChastain praises @joshberry‘s win.
: @PitLaneCPT & @stephen_stumpf pic.twitter.com/sF2vDsOPDh
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) March 22, 2025
According to critics, Phoenix minimizes late-race drama by prioritizing track position and clear air. Whereas, with its progressive banking and heavy tire wear, Homestead emphasizes driver talent over extended distances. Many believe that Homestead is the ideal location for a competitive and well-balanced championship event, especially as the Next Gen vehicle continues to evolve.
Homestead Vice Mayor Sean Fletcher is pushing for the return of the championship decider to the city. “We are in very high hopes that Homestead will be the championship host for 2026. It’s a big deal for the city of Homestead. I think it’s the perfect race for the drivers; they love the track. It’s a driver’s racetrack. And that’s a great time of year (in November) to be in South Florida,” Fletcher said.
Homestead-Miami Speedway president, Guillermo Santa Cruz, is also hopeful that the track will host the season finale soon. He said, “It’s something I want to see happen. And I’m hopeful in the not-too-distant future the championship will come back.”
In a report by Sports Business Journal, NASCAR, led by COO (Chief Operating Officer) Steve O’Donnell, is considering changing the track for the season finale, though the move faces challenges. He argued that Phoenix Raceway was successful in hosting the championship race, and if a change was made, there would be more suitors than Miami. “So 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, we’re extremely happy there and we want to make sure that whatever we do, we continue to grow the sport when it relates to the playoffs,” Steve O’Donnell said.
Denny Hamlin, however, highlighted the excitement of the race rather than his success there as the reason for wanting to move the race into the playoff season. “I would certainly like to see it play a bigger factor in our championship. Whether it’s in the Playoffs, just a part of the championship race or round, or whatever it might be, I’d like to see it be a part of that as like we just talked about, the driver makes a bigger difference at this track compared to the car,” Hamlin said.
While NASCAR has not confirmed any modifications past 2024, Byron’s comments raise the possibility of a Homestead-Miami Speedway finale. His remarks have sparked industry-wide debate and increased support for the track’s reopening as the championship venue. A significant change that might bring back the thrill and unpredictable nature that made Homestead finales legendary would occur if NASCAR were to make the move. What do you think? Will NASCAR make the move back to Homestead in the near future? Let us know in the comments!
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