Written by Gabriel Tsui, Ashleigh McGregor & Sean McKean
Our sole visit to this track occurs a little earlier this season, as all three national series come to Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Homestead initially opened in 1996 and began hosting Cup, Xfinity and Trucks in 1999. From opening to 2002, the track was still 1.5 miles (2.41 kilometres) but more closely resembled the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
In 2003, the track saw a reconfiguration that still holds to this day, as the traditional 1.5-mile shape with 18-20 degrees of banking in the turns.
Below are the start times for each race plus lap count:
Trucks: Friday, 21 March, 20:00 local (00:00 UK) – 134 laps
Xfinity: Saturday, 22 March, 16:00 local (20:00 UK) – 200 laps
Cup: Sunday, 23 March, 15:00 local (19:00 UK) – 267 laps
The defending winners of each race are as follows:
Trucks: No. 9 - Grant Enfinger (CR7 Motorsports)
Xfinity: No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)
Cup: No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
Cup Series: Straight Talk Wireless 400 Preview
Written by Gabriel Tsui
After an exciting race in Las Vegas where we saw Josh Berry rise above all else for his first career Cup Series win and Woods Brothers Racing’s 101st win, we return to the east coast for the Miami 400. As Christopher Bell’s streak comes to an end, will he be able to bounce back after a quiet race? Or would someone lurking below in the standings find their first win of the season and a ticket to the postseason?
This weekend, the drivers will be driving 267 laps around the 1.5-mile-long track, with 80 laps in the first stage, 85 laps in the second stage, and 102 laps in the final stage, totalling a distance run around the track of 400.5 miles (644.542 kilometres).
The weather forecast shows that the weekend will be sunny skies with temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit), so tire temperatures will be a key factor affecting the race. The race will commence on the Sunday of March 23rd, at 15:00 ET (12:00 PT, 20:00 CET).
Race Predictions
This track has historically produced amazing racing for the fans, and 2024’s Miami 400 saw an amazing last lap overtake to send Tyler Reddick into the final four. It was a shocker for most of the fans, as Ryan Blaney was way ahead and seemed destined to win the race.
Though having an inherent chaotic nature, Miami has a historic preference towards the Toyotas, with Bell and Denny Hamlin also having won at this track in the past. Therefore, my pick for the win is Hamlin, who is a three-time winner at the track, and I am pulling for the 44-year-old to be the first four-time winner at Miami.
Though having one of the worst starts to the season in his career, Homestead-Miami has historically been a track where Hamlin has found the top-ten finishes more often than not. In his 20-year career, he has only found himself outside the top-ten in Miami seven times, and outside the top-fifteen only twice.
Returning to his home state of Florida, this will be a chance for Hamlin to secure an early spot in the playoffs and find some momentum to get his season back on track.
Three things to look out for
Miami’s return to the regular season
After three seasons of holding down a playoff spot, Homestead-Miami has once again been banished from the playoff lineup, and this raises questions for the future of the track. Despite being a widely popular race track among both fans and drivers, the declining state of the facilities were likely the reason why Homestead-Miami was removed from the championship race in the first place, and the playoffs subsequently.
But one man’s loss is another man’s gain, as we will be treated to great racing early into the season.
Josh Berry and WBR’s improbable win
After years of serving as a replacement driver, Josh Berry found himself in a full time seat in Stewart Haas Racing before the team went into foreclosure. However, he was given another opportunity in Wood Brothers Racing, stepping into the legendary No.21. After taking a few races to get himself acquitted to his new machinery, the 34-year-old secured a top-five finish in Phoenix and WBR’s 101st win in Las Vegas.
From a bank teller to Late Model champion to Cup Series race winner, Josh Berry is living the dream right now.
Ford slowly moving back up the standings
After a tough start to the season, the Fords are slowly turning their season around. Chris Buescher and Joey Logano are slowly moving back up the standings while Ryan Preece and Austin Cindric are shooting up the standings. We will see if they can build on the momentum, but early signs are looking promising.
Xfinity Series: Hard Rock Bet 300 Preview
Written by Ashleigh McGregor
From Vegas last weekend to the upcoming race in Miami the Xfinity series has traveled coast to coast. Only six races into the season there have already been spectacular displays of racing. Aric Almirola tried to clinch back to back race wins in Vegas, but it was Justin Allgaier on that top step.
This weekend we trade Vegas heat for Miami's, where drivers will be completing 200 laps across the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Stage 1 and 2 will each have 45 laps and the final stage will make up the remaining 110 laps. Qualifying will take place the morning of race day at 11:40am local (15:40 UK).
Dash 4 Cash
The Homestead-Miami Speedway will host the first of four ‘Dash 4 Cash’ races of the season. The driver who wins this race will walk away with a $100,000 bonus prize. Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer and Jesse Love were the four best finishers from the Vegas race, qualifying them to take part in this event. The driver with the highest finish will take home the Dash 4 Cash prize in Miami as well as automatically qualifying for the next Dash 4 Cash.
Race Weekend Insights
For the first time since 2021, the Homestead-Miami Speedway race has been moved from the playoff season to the regular season. While there won’t be any mad dash actions to try and claim a spot in the championships, this race will still be filled with amazing on track action.
Justin Allgaier currently leads the championship battle with 19 points above the rest. He will be a strong contender coming into this weekend. Chevrolet holds the title for the last four victories at the Homestead-Miami race. Drivers under Chevrolet such as Austin Hill, Jesse Love, Sammy Smith and Connor Zilisich should all be in contention for victory.
Sam Mayer who is currently third in the Xfinity Series standings will be looking to get his first win of the season in Miami. He has previously won at this circuit in 2023 which saw him secure a spot in the Championship 4.
Truck Series: Baptist Health 200 Preview
Written by Sean McKean
Following last weekend’s rain-hindered race, the Truck Series returns to the East Coast for the Baptist Health 200 in Homestead.
Trucks have raced on this 1.5-mile track since its opening in 1996, with only one pandemic-related interruption in 2021. Kyle Busch has won this race three times, the most of all Truck Series drivers.
Race Predictions
Given his pace to start the season, it would be easy to immediately pick Corey Heim to take victory in Homestead; however, the TRICON driver has yet to crack the top-two here.
One driver who has been consistently great here, though, is Ty Majeski. Since joining ThorSport Racing in 2021, Majeski won in 2022 and finished runner-up in 2024.
Two things to look out for
It’s Heim time
The strongest driver to start this season is easy to see: Corey Heim. After picking up the win in Daytona, Heim suffered a DNF in Atlanta, but then he followed that up with a victory at the traditionally shaped Las Vegas. Given his pace at Vegas, Heim will certainly be the title favourite all season – a title of which he’s held since his first season in 2023.
Riggs’ 1.5-mile pace
The driver who came just short of victory in Vegas to Heim was Front Row Motorsports’ Layne Riggs. At the end of 2024, he showed his pace at these tracks – taking victory in Milwaukee and finishing runner-up in Kansas. With his pace at the traditional tracks, look out for Riggs to be up front most of the day.
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