When the Cup Series drivers started their engines at Homestead-Miami Miami on Sunday afternoon, the eight playoff drivers were separated by less than 30 points.  By the end of the race those numbers had more than doubled. 

With his win, Christopher Bell joins Kyle Larson in the Championship Four and will make a run for the trophy at Phoenix next month.  The two final spots will be filled after the race this weekend at Martinsville.

The playoffs have not been very kind to the playoff drivers this season with several of the drivers having issues and even crashes that ended their day early.  And so it was at Homestead-Miami with three playoff drivers ending their day before the end of the race.  In trying to avoid hitting Ryan Blaney coming down pit road, Kyle Larson hit the sand barrels at the end of pit road; sending plastic barrel pieces and sand everywhere that resulted in a red flag condition during the race.  Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr also ended the race early after Hamlin hit the wall hard and the engine on Truex’s car blew.  While Larson was safe with a race win last week in Las Vegas; Hamlin and Truex find themselves below the cut line and in danger of elimination next week.

Cup Series Playoff Standings:
William Byron – 4126
Christopher Bell – 4110
Ryan Blaney – 4106
Kyle Larson – 4105
Tyler Reddick – 4096
Martin Truex Jr – 4089
Denny Hamlin – 4089
Chris Buescher – 4063


In the Xfinity Series, Sam Mayer was the first driver to secure his spot in the Championship Four with a win at Homestead-Miami.

John Hunter Nemechek continues to lead in the points after his series winning seven race wins this season.

Xfinity Series Point Standings:
John Hunter Nemechek – 3154
Cole Custer – 3113
Austin Hill – 3113
Sam Mayer – 3111
Justin Allgaier – 3110
Sammy Smith – 3064
Chandler Smith – 3059
Sheldon Creed – 3048


The Craftsman Truck Series set the Championship Four with their final round of eight race at Homestead-Miami. 

A very excited Carson Hocevar secured his spot in the Final Four with a Homestead-Miami win; but Christian Eckes, Nick Sanchez, Zane Smith, and Ty Majeski were all eliminated from the playoffs.

With the final round of the playoffs set, the Championship Four drivers have had their points reset to 4000.  With the final race at Phoenix, playoff and stage points no longer count; it simply comes down to which of the four drivers who crosses the finish line first.

The four drivers competing for the 2023 Craftsman Truck Series championship are:
Corey Heim
Carson Hocevar
Ben Rhodes
and Grant Enfinger