NASCAR Heading to Homestead-Miami for Playoffs Race #8

The NASCAR Playoffs are heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the second race in the Round of 8. It’s playoff race number eight of ten.

The 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1 is the second to last chance for the remaining seven championship contenders to lock themselves in the Championship Four. Kyle Larson achieved that goal last week in Las Vegas when he won. Below is the Playoff Outlook heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway this week.

This week will be a challenge for the drivers and teams. Getting the car balanced between speed and handling is not easy for the crews at Homestead-Miami. Racing is equally difficult for the drivers as they often go three, four and sometimes five wide on the track. Step over that edge and your day can end. Be near a driver who steps over that edge and your day can end.

Here is a look at what all the drivers and teams will face at the track and in 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

4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1 Data:
Season Race #: 34 of 36 (October 22, 2023)
Playoff Race #: 8 of 10
Round of 8 Race #: 2 of 3
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles
Stages 1 Length: 80 Laps
Stages 2 Length: 85 Laps
Finale Stage Length: 102 Laps

These are the active drivers that have won a Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway during their careers.

Last year Kyle Larson failed to make the Round of 8. However, he did dominate and win this race last year as a non-playoff driver. This year, he not only made the round of eight, but has locked himself in the Championship Four. That win also made him the only playoff driver this year to win two races in the playoffs. Will he make the statement that he should be the championship favorite by winning back-to-back races in the Round of 8?

This is Kevin Harvick’s final year as a full-time NASCAR Cup-Series driver. He has yet to win a race this season. This race is named after him in honor of his final season. He has been eliminated from the Playoffs, but can he win the race and play spoiler to the remaining playoff drivers?

William Byron was considered the favorite for the championship by many when the Playoffs started. At that point he had a series high five wins for the season. He won the first race in the Round of 12 to bring his total to six wins for the year. If he can win this weekend, it could put him back on top of the conversation for the championship favorite.

Martin Truex Jr. won the Regular Season Championship this year. However, he has not been having a great run in the Playoffs. He just barely made the Round of 8. If he can find a way to win it would put him in the Championship 4 with a chance to pair his Regular Season Championship with the Season Championship.

As it is each week, there are plenty of other stories that can play out during the race. We will have to see which one becomes reality when the green flag waives to start the 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1 at 1:30 p.m. central time (2:30 p.m. eastern time) from Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday, October 22nd.

By: Buck Stevens