NASCAR heads to Miami

Shining under the beautiful South Florida sun is the 1.5-mile, progressively banked Homestead-Miami Speedway, the big stage for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ second race of the Round of 8, the Straight Talk Wireless 400, this Sunday, October 27 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

With a role of the dice last weekend in Las Vegas, Team Penske’s Joey Logano and the No. 22 Ford team persevered, holding-off Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, while managing their fuel milage to become the first driver and team to earn a spot in the Championship 4 Round, leaving just three positions still up for grabs heading into Sunday at Miami.

Logano entered the Round of 8 race at Las Vegas last weekend ranked eighth in the Playoff standings, and with his win, he leap-frogs the field to the top of the leaderboard earning the first spot in the Championship 4 Round and becomes the NASCAR Cup Series leader in Championship 4 Round appearances with six (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024).

Spinning the tires in Logano’s wake is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell in second in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings outlook, up +42 points of the Championship 4 Round cut line. Hendrick Motorsports’ teammates Kyle Larson (in third, up +35 points) and William Byron (in fourth, up +27 points) round out the top four above the Championship 4 Round cutoff, in third and fourth, respectively.

Mired in the points below the Championship 4 Round cut line are Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin in fifth, -27 points back from Bryon. Regular Season Champion and 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick is in sixth, -30 points back from Byron in fourth. Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, the defending series champion, is seventh, -47 points back from the Championship 4 Round cutoff and Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott is eighth, back -53 points.

Though not impossible, the drivers below the cutline after Las Vegas have a mountain of points to climb to move on. Only one driver in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs since the introduction of the elimination-style format in 2014, has pointed into the Championship 4 Round from 20 or more points below the cutline after the first race of the Round of 8, and that was Martin Truex Jr. (-22 points in 2021). All four drivers below the cutline after Las Vegas this season are at least 27 points back.

Interestingly, in each of the past five seasons, at least one driver from below the cutline after the first Round of 8 race has made the Championship 4 Round. Three eventual Cup champions won their way into the Championship 4 Round from below the cutline after the first Round of 8 race (Ryan Blaney in 2023, Chase Elliott in 2020, and Kevin Harvick in 2014).

Lock-It Up: Clinch Scenarios for Homestead-Miami Speedway

Homestead-Miami Speedway is serving-up one of two more chances in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 8 for the drivers and teams to lock themselves into the Championship 4 Round, below are this weekend’s clinch scenarios:

Already Clinched

The following driver has clinched a spot in the 4-driver field of the next round: Joey Logano.

Can Clinch Via Points

If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 3rd winless driver in the standings.  The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Christopher Bell or Kyle Larson.

• Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help
• Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from William Byron or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 2nd winless driver in the standings.

• Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott

Homestead-Miami Speedway’s place in the Playoffs

Great racing is what Homestead-Miami Speedway is known for. That’s why it isn’t too surprising that South Florida’s 1.5-mile racing mecca has been a staple in the NACAR Cup Series Playoffs almost every year.

This season will be the 19th-year Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race (2004-2019, 2022-2024).

Prior to the 2022 season, Homestead-Miami Speedway hosted the season finale race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs from 2004-2019 (16 straight races).

Then in 2020 and 2021, Homestead-Miami Speedway did not participate in the Playoffs and instead hosted regular season races those seasons.

The 2024 season marks the third-time (2022-2024) Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ – the second-race in the Round of 8 (Race No. 34 of the season).

A total of 13 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, led by Greg Biffle with three postseason victories (2004-2006) at the 1.5-mile track in South Florida.

Denny Hamlin (2009, 2013) and Kyle Busch (2015, 2019) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in victories in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Homestead-Miami Speedway with two postseason wins each.

This season four of the eight active NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers are previous winners at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the series – Denny Hamlin (2009, 2013), Christopher Bell (2023), Kyle Larson (2021) and Joey Logano (2018).

Non-Playoff drivers have won the Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway four times: 2004, 2006, 2013, 2022.

1. Greg Biffle won the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was ranked 21st in the point standings at the time of the win.

1. Greg Biffle won the 2006 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was ranked 13th in the point standings at the time of the win.

1. Denny Hamlin won the 2013 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was ranked 23rd in the point standings at the time of the win.

1. Kyle Larson won the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was ranked ninth in the point standings at the time of the win. Larson was eliminated from the Playoffs in the Round of 12 in 2022.

During the Playoff Era (2004-Present) in the Cup Series, the winner of the Homestead-Miami Speedway Playoff race also won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same season seven times: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

1. In 2011, NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart won from the 15th starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway, then the final race in the Playoffs, and as a result secured his third-career NASCAR Cup Series championship (2002, 2005, 2011).

1. In 2014, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick won from the fifth starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the first year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result won his first NASCAR Cup Series title. Homestead-Miami hosted the final race of the season in 2014.

1. In 2015, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch won from the third starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the second year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he won his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. Homestead-Miami hosted the final race of the season in 2015.

1. In 2016, Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson won from the 14th starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the third year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he tied NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the series-most titles with seven each. Homestead-Miami hosted the final race of the season in 2016.

1. In 2017, Furniture Row Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. won from the second starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the fourth year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs. Homestead-Miami Speedway hosted the Championship race that season and as a result he won his first series championship with the win.

1. In 2018, Team Penske’s Joey Logano won from the fifth starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the fifth year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he won his first series championship. Homestead-Miami hosted the final race of the season in 2018.

1. In 2019, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch won from the fourth starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the sixth year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he won his second NASCAR Cup Series championship, becoming one of only two active drivers with multiple titles (2015, 2019). Homestead-Miami hosted the final race of the season in 2019.

The worst finish in a NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race by the eventual series champion at Homestead-Miami Speedway is 18th and it has occurred once, by Joey Logano in 2022.

Last season, Ryan Blaney finished runner-up at Homestead-Miami Speedway, then the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and went on to win his first series championship that same season.

Plus, a total of 12 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, led by Adam Stevens (2015, 2019, 2023) and Doug Richert (2004, 2005, 2006) with three victories each.

A total of six different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, led by RFK Racing with six victories (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010).

But, since the introduction of the elimination-style format in 2014, Joe Gibbs Racing has scored the most Playoff race wins at Homestead-Miami Speedway with three (2015, 2019 and 2023).

In addition, all three official OEMs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, led by Ford with seven wins, followed by Toyota with six and Chevrolet with five.

Eighth race in the Playoffs has been the key to a title for some  

Homestead-Miami Speedway (2022-2024) is the fourth different track to host the eighth-race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; joining Phoenix Raceway (one race: 2004), Texas Motor Speedway (16 races: 2005-2020), and Kansas Speedway (one race: 2021).

A total of 10 different drivers have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson with five victories – all at Texas Motor Speedway: 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.

Kyle Larson leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in victories in the eighth race of the Playoffs with two postseason wins (Kansas in 2021 and Homestead-Miami in 2022).

This season three of the eight active NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers are previous winners in the eighth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – Denny Hamlin (Texas, 2010), Kyle Larson (Kansas, 2021 and Homestead-Miami, 2022) and Christopher Bell (Homestead-Miami, 2023).

Non-Playoff drivers have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs five times – four times at Texas Motor Speedway: 2006, 2014, 2015, 2020; and once at Homestead-Miami Speedway: 2022.

1. Tony Stewart won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2006, and he was ranked 11th in the point standings at the time of the win (Playoff field was only 10 drivers in 2006).
2. Jimmie Johnson won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2014, and he was ranked 11th in points at the time of the win. Johnson was eliminated from the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 12.
3. Jimmie Johnson won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2015, and he was 12th in points at the time of the win. Johnson was eliminated from the 2015 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 16.
4. Kyle Busch won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2020, and he was ninth in points at the time of the win. Busch was eliminated from the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 12.
5. Kyle Larson won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2022, and he was ninth in points at the time of the win. Larson was eliminated from the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 12.

Four times the winner of the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the title later that same season – three times at Texas Motor Speedway (2007, 2011, 2013) and once at Kansas Speedway (2021).

1. In 2007, Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson won from the eighth starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. The Playoff win at Texas was his third of four consecutive victories in the 2007 Playoffs – the only driver to win four straight in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, Phoenix).
2. In 2011, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Tony Stewart won from the fifth starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship later that season (2002, 2005, 2011). The Texas Playoff win was Stewart’s fourth of his record setting five NASCAR Cup Series Playoff wins in a single postseason run in 2011 (Chicago, New Hampshire, Martinsville, Texas, Homestead-Miami).
3. In 2013, Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his sixth NASCAR Cup Series championship later that season. The Texas Playoff win was Johnson’s second of two postseason victories (Dover, Texas) in 2013.
4. In 2021, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson won from the first starting position at Kansas Speedway and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that same season. The Kansas Playoff win was Larson’s fourth of his five postseason wins in 2021 (Bristol, Charlotte RC, Texas, Kansas, Phoenix); tying NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart’s record for the most Playoff wins in a single Playoff run with five each.

The worst finish in the eighth NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race by a driver that went on to win the title that same season was:

• At Phoenix Raceway it was 10th by Kurt Busch in 2004.
• At Texas Motor Speedway it was 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2009.
• At Kansas Speedway it was first by Kyle Larson in 2021.
• At Homestead-Miami Speedway it was 18th by Joey Logano in 2022.

A total of 11 different crew chiefs have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004-2023), led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Chad Knaus with five victories (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 – all at Texas Motor Speedway with driver Jimmie Johnson).

Stewart-Haas Racing’s crew chief Rodney Childers leads all active crew chiefs in wins in the eighth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with three victories (2017, 2018, 2019 – all at Texas Motor Speedway with driver Kevin Harvick).

A total of six different organizations have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by Hendrick Motorsports with seven victories at three different tracks (Texas: 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015; Kansas: 2021; Homestead: 2022). And since the introduction of the elimination-style format in 2014, Hendrick Motorsports has scored the most wins in the eighth race of the Playoffs with four (2014, 2015 at Texas, 2021 at Kansas and 2022 at Homestead-Miami).

In addition, four OEMs have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by Chevrolet with 10 wins, followed by Ford with five, Toyota with four and Dodge with one.

All of the NASCAR Cup Series on-track activity this weekend will get going with practice and Busch Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday, October 26 at 9 a.m. ET and can be caught on the NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Joey Logano looks to become only active fulltime three-time Cup champion

It’s an exclusive list with just nine names on it all-time, and currently, none of the active fulltime drivers have earned a spot on the prestigious list of champions that have earned three or more NASCAR Cup Series titles. But now that Team Penske’s Joey Logano has earned a spot in the Championship 4 Round this season, he has a big opportunity to change that.

“There’s a lot of pride in making it to the Championship Four,” said Logano, who has secured his series leading sixth Championship 4 Round berth. “It’s tough, right? A long year, you got to get through a lot of different scenarios, a lot of curve balls that are thrown your way. It’s hard, right? Making it is something to be proud of, there’s no doubt. … But it’s all about maximizing the opportunity that’s ahead of us. As proud as I am that we’ve made it, I also feel like the job’s far from being over.”

If Logano (2018, 2022) were to win the title this season and score his third championship, he would become the 10th different driver with three or more championships in the NASCAR Cup Series all-time (1949-2024), and would tie NASCAR Hall of Famers and three-time champions Tony Stewart (2002, 2005, 2011), Darrell Waltrip (1981, 1982, 1985), Cale Yarborough (1976, 1977, 1978), David Pearson (1966, 1968, 1969) and Lee Petty (1954, 1958, 1959) in titles.

Below is a look at all nine of the drivers to win three or more NASCAR Cup Series Championships:

Outside Looking In: Bell, Reddick, Blaney and Buescher are below the cutline

With the first race in the books of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 8 and two races to go, the postseason contenders below the Championship 4 Round cutline – Denny Hamlin (-27), Tyler Reddick (-30), Ryan Blaney (-47) and Chase Elliott (-53) – have quite the challenge set before them as they try to earn their position in the final round.

Below is a quick look at each of the drivers ranked fifth to eighth in the Playoff standings.

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

Has advanced to the Championship 4 Round four times in his career (2021, ’20, ’19, ’14).

2024 Rundown:

Fifth in the Playoff standings, -27 points back from the Championship 4 Round cut line

Three wins, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s, four poles

Laps Led: 922 laps

Average Finish of 14.6

Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.3

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

Three wins, five top fives, 12 top 10s, three poles

Average Finish of 10.895, fourth-best

Average Running Position of 11.021, fifth-best

Driver Rating of 98.1, fourth-best

3,785 Laps in the Top 15 (74.6%), fourth-most

Tyler Reddick (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota)

Is looking to advance to the Championship 4 Round for the first-time in his career.

2024 Rundown:

Two wins, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s, two poles

Laps Led: 506 laps

Average Finish of 13.1

Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.4

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

Three top fives, three top 10s

Average Finish of 11.000, fifth-best

Average Running Position of 11.442, sixth-best

Driver Rating of 96.3, sixth-best

756 Laps in the Top 15 (70.8%), 10th-most

Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford)

Has advanced to the Championship 4 Round once in his career (2023).

2024 Rundown:

Two wins, nine top fives, 16 top 10s, one pole

Laps Led: 476 laps

Average Finish of 16.3

Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.2

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

Two top fives, two top 10s

Average Finish of 16.778, 17th-best

Average Running Position of 14.505, 14th-best

Driver Rating of 84.6, 12th-best

1,550 Laps in the Top 15 (64.5%), 13th-most

Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

Has advanced to the Championship 4 Round three times in his career (2022, ‘21, ‘20).

2024 Rundown:

One win, 10 top fives, 17 top 10s

Laps Led: 214 laps

Average Finish of 12.1

Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.8

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

Two top fives, three top 10s

Average Finish of 10.375, third-best

Average Running Position of 10.986, fourth-best

Driver Rating of 90.7, ninth-best

1,625 Laps in the Top 15 (76.0%), third-most