“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.” These were Kyle Busch’s emotional words after clinching his second NASCAR Cup Series title at Homestead-Miami in 2019. Under the bright Florida lights, Busch silenced critics by leading 120 laps after a 21-race winless streak.
Little did fans know that this moment would mark the final championship celebration. Since 2020, Phoenix Raceway has been NASCAR’s championship battleground, a move initially justified by business interests, facility upgrades, and western market expansion.
However, as five seasons of Phoenix finales have passed, a growing chorus of dissatisfaction has emerged from both drivers and fans alike, with many longing for the return of Homestead’s multi-groove racing surface that rewards driver skill and creates dramatic finishes.
The conversation about championship venues reignited when Freddie Kraft, spotting veteran and popular NASCAR podcast host, tweeted, “Call me crazy, but I think a Championship weekend at Homestead would be good.”
Call me crazy, but I think a Championship weekend at Homestead would be good.
— Freddie Kraft (@FreddieKraft) March 22, 2025
This obvious statement resonated with the NASCAR community. Hence, garnering significant engagement as fans and insiders weighed in on the championship venue debate.
This comes after comments from William Byron suggesting a contrarian view that Homestead works better as a regular-season race rather than a playoff event. According to reports, Byron believes the current scheduling “makes the racing more fun” as drivers can be more aggressive without championship implications. However, this perspective goes along a different path as compared to mounting criticism of Phoenix’s championship-deciding qualities.
Let’s talk some stats: According to The Athletic, only 42% of fans found the 2024 championship race at Phoenix enjoyable. Keeping in mind that this was also when Joey Logano secured his third title, still the majority of the audience didn’t feel it pleasing enough to watch the race. Former NASCAR crew chief Steve Letarte called it a “boring” race, by stating “his one was a little sleepy, right? Like a second of fall off wasn’t really enough” to create compelling action.
Meanwhile, the NASCAR Miami race continues to produce some of the most thrilling intermediate-track racing. Some of these include Tyler Reddick’s spectacular moves during the 2024 playoff race that many considered the season’s best passing display. Championship contenders Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney have both praised Homestead, with Blaney stating, “I think everyone loves Homestead. It’s one of the most fun places we go to.”
NASCAR itself seems open to change. COO Steve O’Donnell has acknowledged the potential for a rotating championship venue. But he emphasized that strong attendance at Homestead’s March race would be “really big for us to see” when considering future changes.
With Homestead Vice Mayor Sean Fletcher leading efforts to secure financial incentives and the Miami-Dade County Board passing a supportive motion, momentum appears to be building. Fletcher estimates a championship at the NASCAR Miami race would bring a $350 million economic boost to the area, declaring, “We are in very high hopes that Homestead will be the championship host for 2026.” As NASCAR continues evaluating its championship format and venues, the passionate support from fans and industry insiders suggests Homestead-Miami’s championship sunset might not be permanent after all.
NASCAR’s Miami race debate reignited
Kraft’s tweet unleashed passionate fan responses that highlighted the community’s frustration with Phoenix. “BRING MIAMI BACK TO THE FINALE, I’M SICK & TIRED OF PHOENIX!!” wrote one enthusiastic supporter. Why so? Well, Phoenix is known for its flatter turns, meaning drivers rely on restarts and strategy. Meanwhile, Homestead Miami, is the perfect spot for risk-taking drivers. With its banked walls and multiple grooves, the track brings exciting racing.
Another suggested that “People will show up to Phoenix regardless. Might as well have it at a good track.” The thing that sets Homestead Miami apart is the track and its effect on rubber. Ever since the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana went off the calendar and Atlanta got repaved in 2021, Miami is one of the highest tire wear tracks, similar to the Darlington track. This means tire management becomes crucial when it comes to winning the race. Since Miami and Phoenix races are around the same time in the playoffs season one fan even wanted to switch things up entirely. “…don’t have a dumb 1 race finale and make it 2-3 races.”
Not all reactions were uniformly positive, however. Some fans expressed concern that Homestead’s quality racing might actually be diminished as a championship venue. One fan cautioning: “Homestead is an awesome track, which is why I don’t want to see it as the title race, where traditionally everyone stays out of the way of the final 4 for the most part.” While Miami gives the option of different racing lines because of its grooves, some fans think this creates unpredictability about crashes. Suddenly, the boring racing of Phoenix becomes acceptable because of the predictable weather.
The post Fans March Behind as Homestead’s Re-Crowning for Finale Race Stance Gets Floated by Insider Amidst Phoenix Hate appeared first on EssentiallySports.