The host observe of NASCAR’s finale modified usually in its early years. It actually wasn’t till the Nineteen Seventies when the sequence started to see some form of consistency, with Ontario Speedway internet hosting the ultimate race from 1974 to 1980, after which Riverside Worldwide Raceway till 1986. From 1987 by way of the 12 months 2000, the season concluded at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 2001 can be an outlier 12 months because of the cancelled New Hampshire race following the tragic occasions of 9/11, which moved that race to the very finish of the season. However between 2002 and 2019, the NASCAR season at all times concluded at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
In 2020, NASCAR moved the ever-important final-four showdown to Phoenix Raceway, which can return to the tip of the schedule once more for a sixth consecutive season in 2025. The observe made a number of spectacular upgrades, town did loads of promotion, however the racing product has been criticized and incessantly in comparison with its former residence — the sensible Homestead.
Individuals completely beloved it there, and pleas for a return to the Southern Florida oval have solely grown louder with yearly that passes. Whereas a return to solely Homestead is perhaps within the playing cards, a latest remark from NASCAR Chief Working Officer Steve O’Donnell to the Sports activities Enterprise Journal means that the finale might find yourself rotating between varied tracks. That would actually be attention-grabbing and would doubtless stop a single group from gaining a stranglehold on the title race like Penske has in recent times. However in fact, the instant query is the place ought to they go? Listed below are my ideas:
Homestead-Miami Speedway: An apparent reply. The observe desires it. The followers need it. The drivers need it. Even when it is for one 12 months earlier than going elsewhere, a return to Homestead would excite your entire sport and most undoubtedly produce an exhilarating finale.
Todd Gilliland, Entrance Row Motorsports, gener8tor Ford Mustang, Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports, Chili’s Catch-a-Rita Chevrolet Camaro, Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Greenback Tree Toyota Camry
Picture by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Las Vegas is a large market with plenty of eyeballs, which is a significant plus, however LVMS can also be an exhilarating intermediate observe with nice racing. The present era of automotive races greatest at these 1.5-mile ovals, and Vegas has proven curiosity in internet hosting the finale earlier than. There’s additionally minimal hazard of a rainout, so it is arduous to check a motive to not give it a attempt.
Martin Truex Jr, Joe Gibbs Racing, Bass Professional Retailers Toyota Camry and William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Kansas Speedway: Not probably the most flashy of locations, however there is no denying that Kansas is the motion observe of recent NASCAR. Practically each race there in recent times has been crammed to the brim with drama. It is just like Vegas in some methods, but in addition distinctive because the artwork of working proper in opposition to the wall is essential to be quick. It additionally holds the report for the closest end in your entire historical past of the Cup Collection, set only a few months in the past when Kyle Larson beat Chris Buescher by 0.001s.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, Chris Buescher, RFK Racing, Castrol Edge Ford Mustang end
Picture by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Charlotte Motor Speedway: This metropolis is the heartbeat of the NASCAR world and already hosts a crown jewel with the Coke 600 in Might. And what higher place to crown the champion of NASCAR than in NASCAR’s personal yard? Whereas the autumn race presently takes place on the Roval, a return to the oval is probably going the perfect plan of action ought to CMS grow to be the title-decider. And sure, as one other intermediate oval, there ought to be no concern over the on-track product.
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Household Greenback Toyota Camry and Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing, BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Nashville Superspeedway: A market that additionally loves its NASCAR. The summer time race at Nashville has solely graced the sequence’ schedule for a couple of years, however it has shortly grow to be one of many extra standard and has produced some nice moments. And there is that iconic guitar gifted to the race winner. Nashville can also be completely different from a lot of the different bigger ovals on the schedule as a concrete observe measuring 1.330 miles in size.
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, Columbia Sportswear Firm Toyota Camry
Picture by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Darlington Raceway: Like Charlotte, Darlington already hosts a crown jewel — the oldest in NASCAR with the Southern 500 courting again to 1950. Sure, Darlington is dripping with historical past, however it’s additionally probably the most troublesome tracks on your entire schedule. The observe by no means fails to placed on a present and it’s unforgiving when drivers make errors. As a real problem for the perfect drivers within the sport, it is the right place for placing the Championship 4 to the final word check. However there’s a disadvantage: You would need to transfer the Southern 500 from its conventional Labor Day weekend slot.
Daniel Suárez, Trackhouse Racing, Freeway Insurance coverage Chevrolet Camaro Austin Cindric, Crew Penske, Low cost Tire Ford Mustang Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, NAPA Gold Filters Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Whereas contemplating a possible host tracks for the finale, you will discover we did not embrace any drafting tracks. Producer loyalty is already dangerous sufficient at a spot like Martinsville as we noticed earlier this 12 months, however a superspeedway would merely be 32 of the 36 automobiles working to place one in every of their producer teammates out entrance. It is also very potential that each one 4 contenders might get wrecked out of the race when the ‘Massive One’ strikes, which might be a bit awkward. However what a few street course finale? Very like brief tracks, we easy did not assume it could be nice race with the present package deal on the Gen-7 automobiles. However we wish to know the place you stand! Tell us what observe you assume ought to host the title-decider for the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Collection.
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