There have been two races so far in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Season. There have been two first-time winners so far in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Season. Will this weekend’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway produce a third first-time winner?
The first race of the season, the Daytona 500, was won by a driver that is in his 14th year racing in NASCAR’s top division. However, that win was Michael McDowell’s first Cup Series win of his career.
The second race on the Daytona Road Course was won by a driver that is in only his second year in NASCAR’s top division. Christopher Bell scored his first career win in just the second race of his second season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
This weekend is the Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. What are the odds that another first-time winner will claim the checkered flag? Let’s take a look at the data for the track and the race.
Homestead-Miami Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.5-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 18-20 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 18-20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 4 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 4 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,760 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,760 feet
Dixie Vodka 400 Data
Season Race #: 3 of 36 (02-28-21)
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles
Stages 1 & 2 Length: 80 Laps (each)
Finale Stage Length: 107 Laps
Here are the top 10 overall performing active drivers at the track.
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Homestead
Tyler Reddick………………………. 115.5
Kyle Larson…………………………. 107.0
Kevin Harvick………………… ……106.8
Martin Truex Jr…………………….. 105.9
Kyle Busch…………………………. 102.1
Denny Hamlin……………………… 100.1
Chase Elliott…………………………. 96.9
Joey Logano…………………………. 91.6
Brad Keselowski……………………. 89.0
Austin Dillon…………………………. 83.4
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2020 races (16 total) among active drivers at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
These drivers have won at least one race at Homestead-Miami Speedway during their NASCAR Cup Series careers.
Denny Hamlin – 3 Wins (including 2020 race)
Kyle Busch – 2 Wins
Joey Logano – 1 Win
Kevin Harvick – 1 Win
Kurt Busch – 1 Win
Martin Truex Jr – 1 Win
Based on the numbers, there is a young driver that could be in position to get his first career Cup Series win this weekend. Tyler Reddick has the highest driver rating at Homestead-Miami Speedway among active drivers. He is in his third season inn NASCAR’s top division. Would it be fate or chance if he was able to get his first win in the third race of his third season?
Of course there will be plenty of other drivers with and without wins in their careers that will be doing everything they can to not let that happen. They will be trying to score the win and clinch their spot in this year’s post-season.
We will find out if it is another win for a driver or another driver with a first win Sunday, February 28th. The Dixie Vodka 400 will get started at 2:30 p.m. central time (3:30 p.m. eastern time) at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
