Homestead, Florida — At a moment that simultaneously symbolizes a return to traditions and a new strategic course, NASCAR announced on Tuesday: the championship weekend in 2026 will take place at the iconic Homestead-Miami Speedway. This means that for the first time in seven years, champions of the three main NASCAR series — Truck Series, Xfinity Series, and the top-tier Cup Series — will be crowned here.
However, as recent statements from leadership indicate, this is not just about a return. It is the beginning of a rotational formula that, according to NASCAR, aims to "redistribute the dramatic season finale between key markets and historic motorsport venues."
“It’s not just about geography — this is a new level of challenge for drivers and new emotions for fans,” — said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President, adding that the format will create “a dynamic, unpredictable finish each year.”
The choice of Homestead is not accidental but a strategic acknowledgment of this arena’s role in NASCAR history. From 2002 to 2019, this track was the backdrop for decisive moments of the season. It became a championship forge for legends: Kyle Busch won titles here twice, Brett Kesselowski — in 2012, Joey Logano — in 2018. And, of course, Jimmie Johnson, seven-time champion, engraved his name in Homestead’s asphalt, where each of his titles ended with a triumphant finish in South Florida. It was here that the tunnel was named after him — a unique honor even by NASCAR standards.
Since 2020, the season finale has been held in Phoenix — a transfer initially perceived as an experiment but cemented for several years. However, there were already talks in the sidelines about returning to the “floating finale” model, which allows organizers to adapt the format to the demands of the modern market and media landscape.
“The modern fan is mobile, multi-platform, diverse. They expect the unexpected. We’re not just selling tickets to the track — we’re delivering emotions into every home,” — says one NBC Sports analyst who asked not to be named while commenting on the format change.
2026 will mark a new era: tradition returns to a familiar track, but in a new format — as part of a rotational strategy. After that, championship weekends will probably shift between historic locations — Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, and possibly even new city circuits currently in planning stages.
Homestead has once again gained the chance to become the place where tears of joy mix with the track’s dust, where history is rewritten with every steering wheel turn, and where tens of thousands of fans will witness the birth of a new champion — or a legend.
