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NBC Sports
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
NASCAR Championship Weekend moving to Homestead in 2026
NASCAR's Championship Weekend will return to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2026, the sanctioning body announced Tuesday morning. NASCAR also announced that it will rotate its season finale for the Cup, Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series starting next year among 'NASCAR's marquee venues and key markets.' NBC Sports, which has broadcast the Cup playoffs and championship race since 2015, will do so through 2031. Phoenix, which has hosted NASCAR's Championship Weekend since 2020, will be among the rotating sites for the season-ending race for each series. NASCAR also announced that Phoenix will host two Cup weekends next year and that the track's second race weekend will be in the third round of the playoffs. Those dates will be announced later. Homestead-Miami Speedway's Championship Weekend will be Nov. 6-8 in 2026. Homestead hosted the championship races for Cup, Xfinity and Trucks from 2002-19 before the season finale moved to Phoenix. 'Homestead-Miami Speedway has a history of competitive, championship racing that will provide nostalgia for veteran drivers and fans and exhilaration for NASCAR's new generation,' said Ben Kennedy, EVP, Chief Venue & Racing Innovation Officer, in a statement. 'As we move forward, the rotating model will provide new challenges for competitors as well as opportunities for unique venues to host our loyal fans at NASCAR Championship Weekend.' Kyle Larson won the most recent Cup race at Homestead, taking the checkered flag in March in a race that had 27 lead changes. Last fall's playoff race at Homestead saw Tyler Reddick win after going from third to first on the last lap. The last three laps each had a different leader in that event. 'This place is awesome,' said Christopher Bell, who finished fourth in that race and watched those lead changes ahead of him. 'It leads to some amazing races.' He's not the only driver who feels that way. 'It's just an awesome race track,' Larson said of Homestead this season. 'Definitely the best across all the series in our sport. It's just fun. It races kind of similar in all the divisions. It's just a cool place.' NASCAR Cup champions crowned at Homestead 2004 — Kurt Busch 2005 — Tony Stewart 2006 — Jimmie Johnson 2007 — Jimmie Johnson 2008 — Jimmie Johnson 2009 — Jimmie Johnson 2010 — Jimmie Johnson 2011 — Tony Stewart 2012 — Brad Keselowski 2013 — Jimmie Johnson 2014 — Kevin Harvick 2015 — Kyle Busch 2016 — Jimmie Johnson 2017 — Martin Truex Jr. 2018 — Joey Logano 2019 — Kyle Busch
New York Times
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Homestead-Miami Speedway expected to host NASCAR title race in 2026: Sources
Homestead-Miami Speedway is expected to host NASCAR's national championship weekend in 2026, according to multiple sources briefed on the plans but not authorized to speak publicly, with an announcement tentatively planned in the coming weeks. The 1.5-mile track in South Florida previously hosted the championship weekend for NASCAR's three national series — Cup, Xfinity and Trucks — from 2002 to 2019 before NASCAR shifted the November event to Phoenix Raceway. Advertisement Homestead returning as the championship host for all three series will likely be well received by competitors and fans alike, with the track regarded as one of the best on the schedule due to its propensity for producing quality racing. The title weekend moving to Homestead is just for the 2026 season, according to those sources, as another track will be selected to host in 2027, beginning a rotation in which a different venue is chosen each year. Phoenix is expected to be included in this rotation, the sources said, and the track will continue to have two races each season. NASCAR declined to comment. 'It's definitely something I want to see happen,' Homestead track president Guillermo Santa Cruz said last month. 'And I'm hopeful in the not-too-distant future the championship will come back.' Behind the scenes, Santa Cruz and NASCAR have been working for some time with elected county and city officials along with the state of Florida and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau to put together a financial incentive package that would assist in the promotion of championship weekend throughout the South Florida market and with infrastructural improvements the track needs. These efforts, while still ongoing, have thus far not materialized. Still, the sources said, NASCAR recently decided that, despite the current lack of financial commitment from the local community, it is in the sport's best interest for Homestead to host championship weekend, with NASCAR covering the necessary expenses to ensure the event is a success. Homestead vice mayor Sean Fletcher said last month that the track hosting championship weekend provides an estimated $350 million economic boost to the area. 'It's really a big deal for the city of Homestead,' Fletcher said. 'I think it's the perfect race for the drivers; they love the track. It's really a driver's racetrack. And that's a great time of year to be in South Florida.' Advertisement Since Homestead last hosted championship weekend in 2019, the track has bounced around NASCAR's calendar. In different years it has been placed in the playoff portion of the schedule or at some point in the spring, as was the case this season when its race weekend was slated for March. 'I would certainly like to see (Homestead) play a bigger factor in our championship,' Joe Gibbs Racing driver and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin said last month. '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.' (Photo of Joey Logano winning the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series title at Homestead-Miami Speedway: Sean Gardner / Getty Images)
Reuters
31-03-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Steve Phelps named NASCAR's first commissioner
March 31 - Steve Phelps was named NASCAR's first commissioner on Monday with a mission focused on "strategic growth and international expansion." Phelps, 62, had been serving as president of NASCAR since 2018. In the newly created role, he will oversee all aspects of the sport that include the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and all 15 NASCAR-owned or operated tracks. Steve O'Donnell was promoted from chief operating officer to succeed Phelps as president. O'Donnell is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of all three NASCAR national series (Cup Series, Xfinity and Trucks) and all commercial, media and track operations as well as four international series and multiple properties. "We are thrilled to name Steve Phelps as NASCAR's first Commissioner," said NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France. "His leadership, professionalism and well-earned respect from across the sports industry speak to his unique value for the sport. With more than 50 years of expertise between them, both Steve Phelps and Steve O'Donnell bring tremendous expertise, stability and a commitment to the bold racing innovations that will continue to serve fans, teams and stakeholders for many years to come." Phelps originally joined NASCAR in 2005. "I'm honored to take this next step in helping to guide NASCAR, the sport I've loved since my father took me to my first race at 5 years old, continue to grow and welcome new fans, competitors and partners that together create some of the most extraordinary moments in sports," Phelps said. "I cannot thank the France family enough for their unwavering commitment to our fans, their steady leadership and, most importantly, their stewardship of stock-car racing since its inception nearly eight decades ago. This sport is truly one of the great American business stories and I'm privileged to continue as part of that legacy -- and especially its bright future." O'Donnell becomes the sixth president in the sport's 77-year history. "In my 30 years in NASCAR, I've been most inspired by the passion of race fans at tracks across the country. It has been a privilege to help bring our sport to those fans through incredible new venues and innovative engaging content that showcase the best racing in our storied history," O'Donnell said. "I believe we're the best in the world at creating 'Bucket List' events that merge sports and entertainment with tailgating, camping and the most immersive fan experience in sports. I'm honored to continue that mission and build upon the collaboration and innovation with our teams and partners to deliver the best racing to sports fans everywhere."
NBC Sports
28-02-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
My first start: NASCAR drivers reflect on their maiden Cup race
Eighteen-year-old Connor Zilisch will become the latest to make his Cup debut when he does so this weekend at Circuit of the Americas. For current Cup drivers, their first starts were memorable for various reasons — from passing Jeff Gordon to wrecking with Jimmie Johnson to being collected in a fiery crash. Nate Ryan, Zilisch will look to make his own memories as he has in his Craftsman Truck and Xfinity Series debuts. Zilisch won the pole in his Craftsman Truck debut last year at COTA. Zilisch locked up his brakes and went off course in the first corner of the race and fell to 34th in the 35-truck field. He rebounded to finish fourth. Zilisch became the second youngest driver to win in the Xfinity Series last September at Watkins Glen when he won in his series debut. Here's a look at what other Cup drivers went through the first time they raced in NASCAR's premier series: Ryan Blaney First race: Kansas, May 10, 2014 Started: 21st Finished: 27th 'I think the big thing that sticks out to me, I was running Trucks full-time that year with Brad (Keselowski's team), we were racing that same weekend, so I was doing double duty. I remember we just got done practicing trucks on Friday and then Cup cars go out and practice. KANSAS CITY, KS - MAY 09: Ryan Blaney(L), driver of the #12 SKF Ford, talks to his father Dave Blaney, driver of the #77 Ford, during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour Energy 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 9, 2014 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images) Ryan Blaney with his father Dave at Kansas in 2014. Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images 'I just remember, trucks are pretty draggy, wide open around Kansas. I remember getting into that Cup car in 2014 and I'm going down the frontstretch and I'm like 'Holy crap, I'm going really fast right now.' 'The sensation of speed difference was just massive to me back then. It was a huge difference in speed. I just remember that overwhelming sensation. Not only were the straightaways fast, (but) the corners, you're ripping through the corners.' Ricky Stenhouse Jr. First race: Coca-Cola 600, May 29, 2011 Started: 9th Finished: 11th Note: Stenhouse made his debut in place of Trevor Bayne, who was out due to a medical issue. 'I remember going to the shop that we're in now (at Hyak Motorsports) to get fitted in the seat in the Wood Brothers car back then. It was all kind of really wild. "… I remember Jimmie Johnson qualified very early on and he came back out to pit road to almost see if I needed anything, which was super cool. Then we qualified. Obviously, going out late was always a benefit at Charlotte. We qualified ninth. CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 26: Jimmie Johnson (R), driver of the #48 Lowe's Summer Salute Chevrolet, walks with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (L), driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by) Jimmie Johnson with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. before Stenhouse qualified for his first Cup race in 2011. 'I hit the wall three times (in the race). We were way too tight. Finally, we got the car driving good and we were kind of running better. … We ended up finishing 11th. It was so cool. 'Now the Wood Brothers act like I drove for them for five, six years (instead of one race). They make you feel like family. I think that's the most special part. Obviously, getting to drive the iconic 21 and it was super last-minute. Definitely a start I will never forget. I've still got the picture of the check I got for that. That was sick, too.' Chris Buescher First race: California Speedway, March 22, 2015 Started: 33rd Finished: 20th Note: Buescher got this opportunity through a varied set of circumstances. It started in February when Kyle Busch was injured in the Xfinity race at Daytona and missed several weeks. David Ragan became his replacement, leaving the No. 34 car. Brett Moffitt moved into the No. 34. That weekend, Brian Vickers was ruled out of the No. 55 car due to the recurrence of blood clots and Moffitt moved to the No. 55. That opened the way for Buescher to drive the No. 34. 'I was sitting at IHOP that (Friday) morning eating and Robbie Reiser called and he said, 'I need you at the track yesterday.' I was like, 'Oh, why?' He said, 'You're driving the 34 car.' And it was just mass chaos. 'I remember that initial conversation, how do I get out of there as fast as possible, get to the track, trying to get a seat fit that was not poured for me. Had never been in a carbon seat before that day, so trying to get that to fit. FONTANA, CA - MARCH 20: Chris Buescher, driver of the #60 Fastenal Ford, stands in the garage area prior to practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series 300 at Auto Club Speedway on March 20, 2015 in Fontana, California. (Photo by) Chris Buescher at Fontana, California in 2015. 'I remember getting pulled out of Xfinity practice because I had to be there for the rookie meeting in Cup. That did not go over well on the Xfinity (team) side, obviously, but it was mandatory to be able to make laps. It was chaos. ' ... I'm not one to get starstruck or don't get big ups or downs, (but) I do remember at one point on one of the restarts passing Jeff Gordon down the frontstretch. I was like, 'Huh, that is Jeff Gordon we just rolled by. That's kind of cool.' My one moment of being starstruck at our sport, I think we had new tires and he came rolling back by pretty quickly.' Carson Hocevar First race: WWT Raceway, June 4, 2023 Started: 26th Finished: 36th Note: Hocevar's first start came unexpectedly. NASCAR suspended Chase Elliott one race for intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin in the Coca-Cola 600. Corey LaJoie was tapped to drive Elliott's car that weekend at WWT Raceway and Hocevar was put in LaJoie's car for the race. Hocevar was running 16th when a brake failure led to him crashing. MADISON, IL - JUNE 03: Pit crew members push a car driven by Carson Hocevar (#7 Spire Motorsports Schulter Systems Chevrolet) into place for qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 on June 03, 2023, at World Wide Technology Raceway, in Madison, IL. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Carson Hocevar drove Corey LaJoie's car with LaJoie driving Chase Elliott's car at WWT Raceway. Photo: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images '(That first start) was a blur. It couldn't have happened at a better time. It couldn't have happened at a more perfect time for me in my career. It's literally the reason I'm … here. It was … three days of notice, a bit of chaos before the race and so much information that I just kind of sat back and said I'm just going to drive a race car. 'You have all this SMT (data), you have all this (in-car) footage. The only thing I really looked at and digested was I watched some in-car footage and went racing. I ran those 70 laps (before brake issues sent him into the wall) and you're there with Cup owners you've never seen before and they're standing on top of their hauler. I remember walking from the infield care center and getting head nods from owners that I've never even met or been face-to-face with yet. ' … I remember someone I'm pretty close with now, brought me to their hauler pre-race and told me how to get out of the way when I'm getting lapped. Funny enough, I was right behind him when we broke. I haven't even mentioned it to him. I might laugh about it with him.' Chase Elliott First race: Martinsville, March 29, 2015 Started: 27th Finished: 38th 'Yeah, it's just honestly crazy that it's been that long, to be honest. It's just gone by so fast. Every year has felt so different to me. I think people look at careers and they think of just this one big storybook, with every year being a different chapter. And to me, it's almost like every year is its own book. That's how different the seasons feel to me. 'Just so much changes. I mean, I was 20 or 21 years old my first year, and now I'm almost 30 and just like — for everyone standing here that is almost 30 years old or older than 30, how much did your life change from 20 to 30? How much different did you look at things from 20 to 30? That's just a huge chunk of your life that just makes things feel different, you know? 'Every year has its own story and it's own feel. I've enjoyed that ride. Some of its been really good ... some of it's not been so good. But there's a lot of experiences in all of that that I think can help shape you and mold you to be better, and the only thing you can control is today moving forward.' MARTINSVILLE, VA - MARCH 27: Chase Elliott, driver of the #25 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet, stands in the garage area prior to qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 27, 2015 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by) Getty Images Bubba Wallace First race: Pocono, June 11, 2017 Started: 16th Finished: 26th Note: Wallace made his Cup debut in the No. 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports in place of Aric Almirola, who suffered a T5 compression fracture in a crash at Kansas Speedway. LONG POND, PA - JUNE 11: (L-R) Darrell Wallace Jr., driver of the #43 Smithfield Ford, NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Petty, and Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, pose for a photo opportunity prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Axalta presents the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 11, 2017 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Wallace will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut today at Pocono Raceway. (Photo by) Bubba Wallace with team owner Richard Petty and Ryan Blaney ahead of Wallace's first Cup start. 'My first Cup start? (What stands out are) the restarts, where I thought I was good at restarts and I was not in the Cup car. 'Speeding on pit road (three times). That was my first time doing a digital dash. I sped through sections, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and then coming back and serving that penalty, I sped that time again. I don't think I've made that many mistakes since 2017, but just a cool day. 'I remember sitting in the car the first time and how different everything felt. The visual standpoint of being in the Cup car, I felt like I was in a limousine. It was a weird feeling, but a lot of fun.' Austin Cindric First race: Daytona 500, Feb. 14, 2021 Started: 39th Finished 15th 'I think of three things. One, trying to make the race as an open car, which was very, very close to not happening. I would say the second, a ... planned effort on a restart to take the lead with Joey Logano pushing me tandem draft (style). Was the coolest thing ever. Had a smile on my face. Very cool experience. And the last one … I got to use (Ryan Blaney's) spotter (after Blaney wrecked out). 'I'd say the negative memory was leading the Fords down pit road on the correct strategy and we fumbled the pit stop one way or the other. I think all of us are to kind of blame for that and then pretty much coming out, losing the draft and being irrelevant until we got into the big fireball wreck (on the last lap triggered by teammates Logano and Brad Keselowski).' DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 14: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, Austin Cindric, driver of the #33 Verizon 5G Ford, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, are involved in an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2021 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by) Austin Cindric's car (5G on the hood) is surrounded by fire in the last-lap crash. He was uninjured. Daniel Suarez First race: Daytona 500, Feb. 26, 2017 Started: 19th Finished: 29th 'My very first Cup Series race ever was the Daytona 500 in 2017. Things got a little bit crazy that offseason (Carl Edwards' sudden retirement led to Suarez taking his ride), and I ended up racing the Cup Series in 2017 when things were not planned that way. 'I had never had a start in any Cup race before. It was very overwhelming. A lot of things were going on. It was good. I felt that it was a good start. Like I always say, the best is yet to come.' Feb 24, 2017; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez (19) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Daniel Suarez at Daytona in 2017. Photo: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Alex Bowman First race: Daytona 500, Feb. 23, 2014 Started: 29th Finished: 23rd 'My first Daytona 500 was 2014. It was my first Cup race. Really stressful weekend. Went down there not locked into the show, didn't qualify with enough speed to lock in, so had to race our way into (through) the Duel. 'At the time you had to finish in the top 15 in the Duel to lock in and we finished 14th, so it was really close. Glad to be able to be in that race. 'I just remember walking out on the driver intro stage on Sunday and seeing so many people, more people than I had ever seen in my life.' DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Alex Bowman, driver of the #23 Dr. Pepper Toyota, during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images) Alex Bowman at Daytona in 2014. Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images William Byron First race: Daytona 500, Feb. 18, 2018 'It's kind of a blur. I feel like I wrecked a lot. I think I crashed in the Duel and then we had a pretty good start to the race and then I had a few incidents in the race. 'I remember finishing the race and was kind of just happy about that, happy to finish the race, happy to see the checkered flag. 'The experience was just crazy, just the excitement around driver intros was really cool.' DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 11: William Byron, driver of the #24 AXALTA Chevrolet, stands in the garage during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by) William Byron at Daytona in 2018. Tyler Reddick First race: Daytona 500, Feb. 17, 2019 Finished 27th: 'What stands out about it? Wrecking into Jimmie Johnson coming to pit road, that's pretty much it. 'I remember coming to pit road and someone behind didn't check up or didn't mean to get down there behind us and did and ran me over, lifted my rear tires off the ground. Sliding into Jimmie, we crashed on pit road before we make our first green flag stop. 'Not how you want to start your Cup career.' DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #31 Symbicort Chevrolet, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, are involved in an on-track incident during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by) Tyler Reddick (31) and Jimmie Johnson (48) make contact on pit road during the Daytona 500.
New York Times
23-02-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Dodge begins process of gaining approval to rejoin NASCAR Truck Series: Sources
HAMPTON, Ga. — Dodge is eying a return to the NASCAR Truck Series as soon as the 2026 season, with the manufacturer having already begun the process to gain NASCAR's formal approval to join Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota as competitors in NASCAR's third-tier national series, people with knowledge of Dodge's plans told The Athletic. Advertisement NASCAR is reviewing Dodge's submission to field a truck through its 'Ram' brand and an answer is expected soon, sources with knowledge of the plans said. While there are no guarantees, sources expect that the league will eventually approve Dodge returning. Such approval would need to happen within a few months to allow Dodge to effectively test its Ram truck before potentially hitting the track in an actual race next year. NASCAR declined to comment. Once a mainstay in the popular Truck Series, Dodge fielded entries from the series' inception in 1995 through the 2016 season before leaving due to costs. In the final few years, Dodge did not officially support any teams; any that competed did so as independents. During this period, Dodge won three manufacturers' championships (2001, 2003 and 2004) and two driver championships with Bobby Hamilton Sr. in 2004 and Ted Musgrave in 2005. A return by Dodge to the Truck Series would see it enter an environment much different than the one it exited. No longer does each manufacturer develop and build its own engines; each team must use a standardized engine built by Ilmor that helps reduce costs. This rule would bolster Dodge as it would need to construct its own engines, allowing Dodge to focus its attention on developing its own distinct body style, which must meet NASCAR approval. Dodge potentially coming back, as first reported by would be a boon for NASCAR. League executives have spoken openly about wanting additional car companies to compete in its three national series (Cup, Xfinity and Trucks), something it has worked extensively to make happen. Dodge raced in Cup from 2001 to 2012 before exiting due to financial difficulties and a lack of viable teams willing to align with it. People with knowledge of the discussions said Dodge is returning with the intent to eventually put together a full Cup program. That Cup program could be operational as soon as 2027 or 2028. Such a plan would be similar to how Dodge last approached entry into NASCAR's premier series — first racing in the Truck Series to gain familiarity, then eventually advancing to Cup when it felt it could at a competitive level.
