The drivers of the NASCAR Cup Series will race beyond the confines of Daytona International Speedway for the first time this season this week. They are, however, still in the state of Florida. NASCAR will make the short trip south to Homestead-Miami Speedway for their third race weekend of the season. The Dixie Vodka 400 is scheduled for this Sunday.
Read on for a detailed overview of the track and its history.
Homestead-Miami Speedway Overview
Homestead-Miami Speedway opened in 1995. The first race at the track was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race (then known as the Busch Series). The first Cup Series race was held in 1999 and won by Tony Stewart. He, Greg Biffle, and Denny Hamlin are all tied for the most all-time wins at Homestead-Miami Speedway with three apiece.
The track went through a reconfiguration to turn the six-degree banked turns into 18-20-degree progressively banked turns. The 1.5-mile track has no trouble eating the tires of the cars that race on it. This has naturally given fans a ton of great races over the years.
Homestead-Miami Speedway Part of NASCAR Schedule Changes
This year marks just the second time since 2002 that Miami will not host the final race of the NASCAR Cup Series season. From 2002-2019 the track was home to the final race/championship race for all three of NASCAR’s national series. In 2012, the Ford EcoBoost 400 marked the last race for the “Car of Tomorrow” as the Gen-6 car would make its debut the following season.
This weekend’s race marks the earliest in the season that Homestead-Miami Speedway will have ever hosted a race. NASCAR moved the final race from Homestead-Miami to Phoenix Raceway starting in 2020. This year also will be the first time since 1996 that the Camping World Truck Series will not be racing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.
NASCAR Cup Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway | Weekend Racing Schedule
Contender Boats 250
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021
Start Time: 4:30 p.m. EST
Coverage: FS1
Distance: 250 miles
Laps: 167
Dixie Vodka 400
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Date: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021
Start Time: 3:30 p.m. EST
Coverage: FOX
Distance: 400 miles
Laps: 267
