After back-to-back weeks of racing at Daytona International Speedway, the NASCAR Cup Series teams head south this week for the Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Known for the wear and tear it puts on tires, Homestead has a history of exciting races. After a pair of first-time winners went to victory lane in the first two races of the season, this weekend’s showdown at Homestead carries plenty of intrigues.
This article contains all of the vital information necessary to get you ready for the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series season. Read on for the Dixie Vodka 400 start time, starting grid, fast facts and statistics.
NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona Road Course
Dixie Vodka 400 Race Info
23rd Dixie Vodka 400
Date: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021
Start Time: 3:30 p.m. EST
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway — Homestead, FL
Coverage: FOX
Pole Sitter: Denny Hamlin
Defending Champion: Denny Hamlin
Dixie Vodka 400 Race Details
Distance: 400 miles
Laps: 267
Lap Length: 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers)
Stages: Three (Laps 1-80; Laps 81-160; Laps 161-267)
Surface: Asphalt
Turns: 4
Dixie Vodka 400 Starting Grid
See below for a breakdown of qualifying.
| Starting Position | Driver | Car Number | Team | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cole Custer | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 2 | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | Tyler Reddick | 8 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Chase Briscoe | 14 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Justin Haley | 31 | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 7 | Ty Dillon | 42 | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 11 | Kyle Busch | 18 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | Kurt Busch | 45 | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 14 | Erik Jones | 43 | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 15 | Chris Buescher | 17 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing | Ford |
| 16 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Michael McDowell | 34 | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 18 | Brad Keselowski | 6 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing | Ford |
| 19 | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 21 | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 23 | Todd Gilliland | 38 | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 24 | Harrison Burton | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 25 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 26 | Corey LaJoie | 7 | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | Justin Allgaier | 77 | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | Noah Gragson | 16 | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | J.J. Yeley | 15 | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 30 | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 31 | Aric Almirola | 10 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 32 | Kevin Harvick | 4 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 33 | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 35 | Cody Ware | 51 | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 36 | Josh Williams | 78 | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying Overview
Following the virus-caused interruption to racing last season, NASCAR did away with practice and qualifying runs at the majority of races. A combination of grouped draws and a performance-metrics formula were used to determine starting lineups. That same formula remains in place for the majority of races on the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, including this weekend’s Dixie Vodka 400.
So, what exactly is involved in the performance-metrics formula? Well, it draws on a number of factors including individual race performances and seaosn-long results. The following breakdown illustrates the weighted grades associated with each component of NASCAR’s metrics formula:
NASCAR Cup Series Metrics Formula Breakdown
- 35 percent: Team owner points ranking
- 25 percent: Driver’s finishing position from the previous race
- 25 percent: Car owner’s finishing position from the previous race
- 15 percent: Fastest lap from the previous race
Dixie Vodka 400 Stats and NASCAR Betting Facts
- Denny Hamlin notched his third win at Homestead-Miami in last year’s race.
- Hamlin leads all active drivers and is tied with former NASCAR Cup Series drivers Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle for the most all-time wins at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
- Joe Gibbs Racing has won four of the last eight races at Homestead-Miami.
- This will be just the second year of the race running under the Dixie Vodka title sponsor. Prior to last year, the race was known as the Ford EcoBoost 400 from 2012-2019 and simply the Ford 400 from 2002-2011.
- This marks the earliest on the schedule that the NASCAR Cup Series has ever raced at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
