A city has always been seen as having the best chance to enjoy the splendor of the sport’s biggest event when it hosts NASCAR’s championship race. The Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted some of the most memorable events in recent memory, including Jimmie Johnson’s record-tying eighth title in 2016 and Tony Stewart’s thrilling victory in 2011. But in an unexpected turn of events, NASCAR decided to revitalize the championship race by moving it to Phoenix Raceway in 2020. Hosting NASCAR’s championship weekend is no easy task, though. It needs the perfect balance of thrilling competition, financial support, and an energetic city.
There are already increasing rumors that NASCAR might be considering returning to Homestead, leaving Phoenix behind. But is this a final decision? The choice is actually much more complicated than it first appears. Homestead and Phoenix are engaged in a fierce battle for the coveted hosting rights of NASCAR’s championship race. With its multilane racing and history of exciting championship matchups, many fans and industry insiders contend that the Homestead-Miami Speedway is the ideal location for the season finale. Jordan Bianchi, an experienced NASCAR journalist, has pointed out that the decision isn’t just about the action on the track; it’s also about the economic side of things.
“NASCAR wants to be here [Homestead],” Bianchi disclosed on an episode of The Teardown with Jeff Gluck. Although it’s also a business decision, they would like to hold their championship aici. Similar to towns competing for the Super Bowl, winning the championship race is a difficult process in which offering financial incentives is a crucial component of the campaign. Bianchi emphasized the important role that financial support plays in deciding the championship’s venue by explaining that “the Arizona, Phoenix community is paying NASCAR essentially to have the championship at Phoenix Raceway.” Homestead and Miami-Dade County are eager to put together a financial package to entice NASCAR back to Homestead, Bianchi added.
But he noted that the city couldn’t pay for it all by itself. Securing the required funding while competing with other significant regional events, like the College Football Playoff National Championship and Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix, is the difficult part. Sean Fletcher, the vice mayor of Homestead, is promoting the idea of bringing the championship final back to the city. He emphasized the importance of the tournament for Homestead and stated the city’s strong ambitions of hosting the championship in 2026. The agreement hasn’t materialized yet, though, despite the initial optimism. In the absence of strong financial support, NASCAR might be reluctant to move.
It’s interesting to note that Miami wouldn’t necessarily be the following host if the championship moved from Phoenix. “So, if we were to move, it’s going to be hard to replicate. I wouldn’t limit something just to Miami if we were to rotate it,” said NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell. As of right now, NASCAR has not committed to Phoenix or any other track after 2025, so the future is still unclear. Relatedly, NASCAR is thinking about adding a new element to the championship races. Races now have an additional strategic dimension thanks to the recent introduction of the “option tire,” a softer compound rubber that provides better grip and faster lap times but wears out sooner. The event marked the debut of the choice tire 2024 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and despite mixed results, further testing at tracks like Richmond Raceway and Phoenix Raceway has led to varied pit strategies and increased on-track action.
In the future, NASCAR is considering making the option tire the main tire for the championship race. This may significantly change how teams prepare for the season finale. These developments are meant to increase competition and spectator involvement as the sport develops further, guaranteeing that every race offers a new dose of suspense and uncertainty. In conclusion, even though Homestead provides an exciting on-track product, whether the championship race returns to South Florida will ultimately depend on its capacity to obtain the required money. The dynamics of NASCAR’s championship race could be significantly altered by the option tire’s possible adoption as the main tire. How these processes play out can only become clear with time; in the meantime, the future of NASCAR’s championship race remains a thrilling suspense.
