Why NASCAR shifting its championship race to Homestead in 2026 is the suitable resolution

According to Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, Homestead-Miami Speedway will go back because the web site of NASCAR’s championship weekend in 2026. Homestead used to be the web site of NASCAR’s finale yearly from 2002 till 2019. In 2020, NASCAR’s championship weekend shifted to the Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., the place it has stayed since.

Homestead held its one NASCAR race weekend within the common season in 2020 and 2021 prior to being added again into the playoffs in 2022. From 2022 to 2024, Homestead used to be featured as the second one race within the penultimate spherical of the playoffs.

This yr, alternatively, Homestead’s date reverted to the common season, conserving its lone Cup Series race on March 23. In hindsight, shifting the race from October to March might permit the power to renovate the venue and make more than a few, much-needed adjustments regarding the fairly sparse and old-fashioned facilities provide on the 1.5-mile tune. 

This loss of facilities is thought to be a big explanation why Phoenix, a tune with a much less intriguing on-track product however a lot better fan and trade facilities, used to be given the championship date in 2020.

According to Bianchi, Homestead has best nailed down the championship race for 2026, as NASCAR is predicted to rotate the venue for its finale over the approaching years. Phoenix Raceway will retain two races at the Cup Series agenda within the coming years, and is reportedly one of the vital tracks that will likely be featured within the rotation of the championship race.

After 5 years — and yet one more at the horizon — of fairly lackluster championship races at Phoenix, fresh barn burners at Homestead — see Tyler Reddick’s last-lap go for the win in October 2023 — have best strengthened fan improve for a go back to Homestead for championship weekend. 

Phoenix is also a world-class facility from the viewpoint of fan facilities, however the racing product on target hasn’t ever been ready to check that of Homestead. NASCAR’s Next Gen automotive, which has a tendency to race worse on brief ovals and higher on intermediates akin to Homestead, has best served as gas to the hearth in regards to the argument that Homestead must substitute Phoenix because the finale.

With Homestead now again because the finale, the query is the place NASCAR slots in a 2nd Phoenix date for 2026. Before changing into the finale in 2020, Phoenix held its 2nd race of the yr within the penultimate spherical of the playoffs, serving because the removal race for the Round of 8 from 2014 to 2019.

For years, Homestead’s amenities fell at the back of even whilst website hosting NASCAR’s championship weekend. Now, the power will expectantly have quite a few trendy facilities to fit the enthusiasts on the tune and can nonetheless be capable to give you the nice racing that it options, regardless of the place it falls at the agenda.