Homestead-Miami Speedway hosted the championship race from 2002-19 but has since moved to Phoenix Raceway. Following a record-setting Cup Series race, fans and industry members alike are now calling for its return.
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Simply put, Sunday's race, which Tyler Reddick won with a wild pass in Turns 3 and 4, delivered. Eleven drivers combined for 33 lead changes, the most in Homestead history.
Three different drivers from below the cutline led in the final two laps while racing for the win and an automatic trip to the Championship 4. No one watching the race knew who would deliver the win until the final seconds.
WHAT A WILD FINAL TWO LAPS AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI.
Relive the battle for the win between Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin for a spot in the NASCAR championship race. pic.twitter.com/JfLU59krvx
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 27, 2024
Seven of the eight remaining playoff drivers were in contention for the win until the closing laps. Reddick led 97 laps while Chase Elliott led 81. Ryan Blaney led 47 laps while Denny Hamlin led 21.
This includes Kyle Larson who hit the outside wall with a flat tire, made numerous trips down pit road for adjustments, and spun again to bring out the final caution.
BRING THE CHAMPIONSHIP BACK TO HOMESTEAD
— Mike Bachmann (@mvbachmann) October 27, 2024
"We need to race at Homestead like (four) times a year," another person posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The comments continued as people on social media highlighted the fact that the wild finish would have only made a championship race better. Some compared the 33 lead changes to last season's championship race at Phoenix, which only featured 18 lead changes between eight drivers.
"Legit awesome race all day," another person added. "Homestead is legit and I hope the early season race is just to make renovations for 2026."
NASCAR moved the championship race to Phoenix in 2020 after extensive renovations. The Arizona track has continued to host the season finale while selling out every season. The racing hasn't delivered fireworks, but the fans have continued to show up en masse.
This is an area where Homestead-Miami Speedway has struggled. Fans just haven't shown up as they have at other tracks.
There is no good reason Phoenix is the championship race over Homestead. None.
— Christian Espinoza (@Christian_Racin) October 27, 2024
Phoenix will once again host the championship in 2025; NASCAR has already unveiled the schedule. However, Homestead-Miami Speedway's new president, Guillermo Santa Cruz, has made it clear that getting the title race back is a priority.
"We want to have the best races and the best of everything," Santa Cruz told media members in July after taking on his new role.
"Now how we get there and how that process comes along all can be determined in time, but any track president that comes in, they want to have a championship. That is the epitome of the sport."
The championship race will not return to Florida in 2025. Instead, the track will move out of the playoffs and into March.
