It all comes down to this weekend. The NASCAR Playoffs will end with a winner-takes-all race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to determine the new NASCAR champion after the Ford EcoBoost 400.
Sunday, November 17th the Championship Four will line up to race. Those drivers are Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. Whichever one of those drivers crosses the finish line before the other three will become the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
There are no more point standings, playoff points, race wins or stage points to help any of them. It is pure and simple finish first and claim the title.
While those four drivers are racing for the championship, they will also be racing all of the other drivers attempting to finish the season as high as possible in the standings. Winning the race for one of these drivers would be a better way to head to the off season and prepare for next year. With that in mind here is what all drivers are facing equally.
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
Ford EcoBoost 400 Data
Season Race #: 36 of 36 (11-17-19)
Playoff Race #: 10
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles
Stages 1 & 2 Length: 80 Laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 107 Laps
Here is a look at the active drivers that have performed well at the track in their careers.
Top 10 Active Driver Ratings at Homestead
Kyle Larson …………………………… 108.7
Kevin Harvick ………………………… 108.2
Martin Truex Jr. ………………………. 105.5
Kyle Busch ……………………………… 99.8
Denny Hamlin ………………………….. 96.7
Chase Elliott ……………………………. 95.1
Jimmie Johnson ………………………. 94.0
Joey Logano ……………………………. 93.8
Brad Keselowski ………………………. 91.0
Ryan Newman …………………………. 85.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (14 total) among active drivers at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Driver names in RED above are currently in championship contention in the playoffs.
Since the implementation of this style of competition for the championship it has taken winning the final race of the season to win the championship. With that in mind, here are the active drivers who have won a race during their career in NASCAR’s top division at this track.
Active Drivers with Homestead-Miami Speedway Win(s)
Denny Hamlin – 2 Wins (prior to this championship format)
Joey Logano – 1 Win (2018 NASCAR Champion)
Martin Truex Jr. – 1 Win (2017 NASCAR Champion)
Jimmie Johnson – 1 Win (2016 NASCAR Champion)
Kyle Busch – 1 Win (2015 NASCAR Champion)
Kevin Harvick – 1 Win (2014 NASCAR Champion)
Kurt Busch – 1 Win (prior to this championship format)
Driver names in RED above are currently in championship contention in the playoffs.
What will it be this weekend? Will one of the Championship Four win the race and the championship? Will a non-contender win the race and the championship go by finishing order after that? Will an on track incident play a role in determining the winner of the title causing more drama?
These questions and many more will be answered when the green flag waives to start the Ford EcoBoost 400 Sunday, November 17th starting at 2 PM central time (3 PM eastern time) at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
