NASCAR’s championship weekend is back at Homestead this weekend. Here’s what to expect
Another championship event descends upon South Florida this weekend.
For the three days, Friday through Sunday, the Homestead-Miami Speedway once again transforms into NASCAR’s Championship Weekend track. The weekend culminates with the NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400, where either Kyle Bush, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr or Joey Logano will take home the championship.
It’s the 17th year that NASCAR finishes its nine-month season in Miami, a feat Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matt Becherer calls “unprecedented” when looking at how other professional sports bid handle their championships.
“We’ve seen it all down here,” Becherer said, pointing to Miami’s history of hosting Super Bowls, Orange Bowls (which now include a College Football Playoff semifinal every three years) and NBA championship games. “Ford Championship weekend is a perfect fit within that landscape.”
And while the three races this weekend are the reason for the festivity, Becherer said Miami-Homestead speedway will have so much more to offer over the next three days.
As soon as the gates open each morning, live music, exhibits and displays will make up a majority of the pre-race entertainment. Just outside the gates, people are able to tailgate and camp in the parking lots. Parking is free and ticket holders are able to move in and out of the racetrack as they wish.
“What’s fantastic about any race weekend is that it’s really more of a festival atmosphere that culminates with a championship race,” Becherer said.
But make your way inside the racing area, and the atmosphere quickly becomes tense. Championships, glory, bragging rights all come down to this one race.
“There’s definitely a seriousness that’s palpable in the garage area,” Becherer said, “because there’s so much on the line.”
Three big races are on the docket.
It all starts at 8 p.m. Friday with the Ford Ecoboost 200, NASCAR’s Truck series. Brett Moffitt, Noah Gragson, Johnny Sauter and Justin Haley serving as the final four vying for the series title.
The 200-lap Xfinity series finale is set for a 3:30 p.m. start on Saturday, with a quartet of younger faces in contention for the championship in Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric and Tyler Reddick.
It all builds up to the marquee race at 3 p.m. Sunday, when the NASCAR CUP Series concludes with its championship race.
Three of the series’ last four winners are in the running for the 2018 title. Truex is the defending champion, Busch took top prize in 2016 and Kevin Harvick won in 2015.
“It’s the big three and me,” Logano said with a laugh.
The goal for all three races is simple: Be the first out of the four racers still in contention for the championship to finish, and the title is yours. An overall race win this weekend is not necessary to win the series, although the racers aren’t heading into the weekend with that mentality of coasting past their opponent.
“All of us come in here expecting that to be the case,” Truex said. “There’s I think about a 99 percent chance that one of these guys is going to win it to win the championship. That’s what you come down here prepared for as a group, as a team, as a driver, and that’s your goal coming here to win, and then you can guarantee yourself a championship.”
Three days of championship-level competition are about to descend upon South Florida. The races are here.
“There’s just a different level of attention and pageantry and everything else that goes with a championship,” Becherer said. “It’s unmistakably different from any other race on the schedule.”
Ford Championship Weekend
FRIDAY
Race: Ford EcoBoost 200, Trucks Series
When: 8 p.m.
TV: FS1
Last year’s winner: Chase Briscoe
SATURDAY
Race: Ford EcoBoost 300, Xfinity Series
When: 3:30 p.m.
TV: NBCSN
Last year’s winner: Cole Custer
SUNDAY
Race: NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBost 400
When: 3 p.m.
TV: NBC
Last year’s winner: Martin Truex Jr.