NASCAR weekend is back at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Here’s what to know

Jordan McPherson
·4 min read
2

NASCAR returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend, and there are playoff implications on the line.

Three races — one for each of NASCAR’s series (the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Trucks Series) — will take place during two days at the South Florida track.

What happens this weekend will play a key role in determining which drivers will stay in contention to win a championship in two weeks at Phoenix Raceway.

Here’s what you need to know heading into the weekend.

How to watch

Saturday’s doubleheader begins with the Craftsman Truck Series’ Baptist Health 200, which is 134 laps and 201 miles. The race is scheduled to begin at noon and will be televised on FS1. Afterward is the Xfinity Series’ Contender Boats 250, which is slated to start at 3 p.m. and be televised on USA.

The NASCAR Cup Series’ 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1 closes out the trio of races on Sunday. The 267-lap race begins at 2:30 p.m. on NBC.

Cars race pass the starting line during the start of the Dixie Vodka 400. On Sunday, October 23, 2022 the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 continued with the Dixie Vodka 400, a NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead–Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.
Cars race pass the starting line during the start of the Dixie Vodka 400. On Sunday, October 23, 2022 the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 continued with the Dixie Vodka 400, a NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead–Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

What is the schedule at the track for the three days?

Friday

1:30 p.m.: Parking lots open

3:30 p.m.: Grandstand gates open

4:05 p.m.: Truck series practice starts

4:35 p.m.: Truck series qualifying round starts

6:05 p.m.: Xfinity series practice starts

6:35 p.m.: Xfinity series qualifying round starts

Saturday

7 a.m.: Parking lots open

9 a.m.: Grandstand gates open

9:05 a.m.: NASCAR Cup Series practice starts

9:35 a.m.: NASCAR Cup Series qualifying round starts

Noon: Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 race begins

3 p.m.: Contender Boats 300 race begins

Sunday

8 a.m.: Parking lots open

10 a.m.: Grandstand gates open

10:30 a.m.: Infield grounds and pre-race access opens

12:30 p.m.: Cedric Gervais pre-race concert on pitroad

2:30 p.m.: 4Ever 400 Presented by Mobil 1 race begins

Kyle Larson stands atop of the driver’s door in celebration in winning Dixie Vodka 400. On Sunday, October 23, 2022 the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 continued with the Dixie Vodka 400, a NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead–Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.
Kyle Larson stands atop of the driver’s door in celebration in winning Dixie Vodka 400. On Sunday, October 23, 2022 the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 continued with the Dixie Vodka 400, a NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead–Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

Which drivers are competing for Championship 4 spots?

Homestead is the second of three races in NASCAR’s Round of 8 portion of the playoffs for the Cup Series and Xfinity Series and the final Round of 8 race for the Trucks Series.

A driver still in contention any of the three series automatically advances to the Championship 4 with a win at any of the tracks — Las Vegas last week, Homestead this week and (for the Cup Series and Xfinity Series) Martinsville next week. Any championship spots not secured via wins in this portion of the schedule will be decided by standings.

Kyle Larson has already locked up his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Championship 4 with his win last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s South Point 400, leaving seven other drivers still in contention for the final three spots.

The seven, in order of the standings: William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney and Chris Buescher.

As for the other two series...

The eight drivers still in contention for the Xfinity Series are John H. Nemechek, Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith and Sheldon Creed.

And for the Craftsman Truck Series, Corey Heim is locked in for one of the Championship 4 spots. The other seven vying for the final three spots — all of which will be decided after their race at Homestead on Saturday — are Carson Hocevar, Christian Eckes, Nicholas Sanchez, Grant Enfinger, Ben Rhodes, Ty Majeski and Zane Smith.

William Byron (24) leads the race after the first 10 laps during the Dixie Vodka 400 race that is part of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla.
William Byron (24) leads the race after the first 10 laps during the Dixie Vodka 400 race that is part of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla.

Homestead-Miami Speedway’s history with NASCAR playoffs

For 18 years, from 2002 to 2019, Homestead-Miami Speedway was the final stop on NASCAR’s schedule every season, a champion decided annually in South Florida.

But NASCAR has since moved the championship to Phoenix starting with the 2020 season.

Now, Homestead still plays a vital role late in the season. After being an early-season race in 2020 and 2021, Homestead-Miami Speedway returned to the playoff fixture last season as the second of three Round of 8 races. It holds that spot again this season.

Of the eight drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series still in contention to win the championship, four have wins at Homestead: Larson (2022), Byron (2021), Truex (2017) and Hamlin (2020, 2014 and 2009).

Are there still tickets for sale?

Tickets for the weekend can still be purchased from the Homestead-Miami Speedway website, https://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com/2023-nascar-weekend/