Josh Berry’s Victory and the NASCAR Cup Series Heading to Homestead
After Josh Berry secured his first career Cup Series win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, giving Wood Brothers Racing their 101st victory, the NASCAR Cup Series moves back east to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Straight Talk Wireless 400.
Challenges of Homestead-Miami Speedway
This marks the second consecutive race at a 1.5-mile track, but Homestead-Miami presents a unique challenge. Drivers use various lines around the high tire-wear surface, sometimes running right up against the wall to maximize speed.
Season Highlights So Far
With five races completed, Berry’s win put an end to Christopher Bell’s three-race winning streak. So far, only three drivers—Bell, Berry, and William Byron—have claimed victories, shaping an interesting early-season storyline.
Points Leader William Byron
Byron’s Daytona 500 victory, along with four top-10 finishes in five races, has placed him atop the points standings, holding a 29-point lead over Bell heading into Homestead.
Return to Spring Racing at Homestead
This race marks the first spring event at Homestead-Miami Speedway since 2021 when Byron took the checkered flag. The track, which hosted NASCAR’s Championship Weekend from 2002 to 2019, has been a playoff venue for the past three seasons.
Drivers Seeking a Rebound at Homestead-Miami
Ryan Blaney (No. 12, Team Penske Ford)
For the second straight race, defending Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney had the speed to compete but failed to capitalize, finishing 35th at Las Vegas. After a tire failure in practice forced him to start from the back, a multi-car crash in the final stage ended his race early.
Despite an inconsistent record at Homestead, Blaney has been strong recently. He has three career top-10s at the track, all of which were top-fives, including two consecutive second-place finishes. With strong stage performances and a last-lap battle for the win last year, Blaney has a good chance to turn things around this weekend.
Kyle Busch (No. 8, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
Las Vegas was a race to forget for Busch. After qualifying fourth, he was penalized for speeding on pit road in Stage 1 and later lost a wheel in Stage 2, finishing 33rd.
Busch’s history at Homestead is mixed. While he won there in 2015 and 2019 to clinch championships, he also has five finishes outside the top 30 in 20 starts. His recent performances at the track with RCR—18th and 31st—raise concerns about whether he can rebound this weekend.
Tyler Reddick (No. 45, 23XI Racing Toyota)
After finishing third at COTA, Reddick has struggled with back-to-back finishes of 20th or worse at Phoenix and Las Vegas. Mechanical issues in Phoenix and a costly pit stop in Las Vegas prevented him from capitalizing on his speed.
However, Homestead-Miami is one of Reddick’s best tracks. He has four top-five finishes in five Cup Series starts there, including a dramatic last-lap pass on Blaney to win last year’s playoff race and secure a Championship Four spot. If he and his team can execute a clean race, a strong performance seems likely.
