The Cup Series caps off a weekend of triple header racing with just three weeks remaining in the 2024 racing season with the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Thirty-eight teams have brought cars to Homestead for the race.
Last week at Las Vegas Joey Logano secured his spot in the championship four after winning the race. Currently Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, and William Byron are above the cut line but as recent weeks have shown, the standings can change in a flash.
But first on an early south Florida morning the drivers take to the track for a practice session and qualifying. At 9am the air temperature is already 75 degrees.
Homestead-Miami is a track where the drivers will have to do some “rim riding” and get up against the wall for the fastest speeds. Tires wear out quickly on the track and the drivers find the grip up against the wall.
This weekend William Byron makes career start number 250.
The drivers have been divided into two groups for a 20 minute practice session with the playoff drivers split between them.
Joey Logano comes down pit road with reports of power steering issues.
Christopher Bell had a shortened practice session after a tire went down. The crews are given only one set of tires for practice.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Chad Finchum whop posted a time of 33.794 seconds around the mile and a half track.
The second car out, AJ Allmendinger broke the 33 second mark with a time of 32.637 seconds.
Five cars have gone out and every driver has gone faster than the car before it. Brad Keselowski is the first driver not to improve the speed over the driver before him.
Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Justin Haley will move on to round two of qualifying from Group A.
JJ Yeley is the first driver on the track to qualify from Group B and posted a time of 33.063 seconds.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Daniel Hemric, and Christopher Bell are the Group B drivers moving on to a second round of qualifying.
Five of the eight playoff drivers are in the top 10. There are no Fords in the top 10; half Toyotas and half Chevrolets.
With a time of 32.248 seconds Tyler Reddick puts his number 45 on the pole with Kyle Larson starting alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup to the Straight Talk Wireless 400:
Tyler Reddick
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Martin Truex Jr
Chase Elliott
Bubba Wallace
Daniel Hemric
Justin Haley
Alex Bowman
Joshe Berry
Chase Briscoe
Ty Gibbs
Carson Hocevar
Noah Gragson
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Zane Smith
Ryan Blaney
Chris Buescher
Ross Chastain
Daniel Suarez
Michael McDowell
William Byron
Joey Logano
Kaz Grala
Erik Jones
John Hunter Nemechek
Austin Dillon
Todd Gilliland
AJ Allmendinger
Corey LaJoie
Harrison burton
Ryan Preece
Austin Cindric
JJ Yeley
Chad Finchum
After some power steering issues in practice, Joey Logano’s crew replaced the power steering on the number 22 car; as a result, Joey Logano will start the race from te back of the field. Chris Buescher will also have to move to the back of the field after the crew made some unapproved adjustments to the car.
Stage one is 80 laps, stage two is 85 laps, and stage three is 102 for a total of 267 laps around the mile and a half track.
Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Kyle Larson alongside. Reddick jumps out in front for the lead as drivers spread out three wide across the track.
Justin Haley spins around on lap two after contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr to bring out the caution flag. Back in the field John Hunter Nemechek and Harrison Burton sustained some damage trying to check up due to the wreck.
Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap six but Christopher Bell comes up to battle with Reddick for the lead. Kyle Larson moves down the track to make it a three way battle. Reddick blocks Larson and takes the lead.
Lap eight, the top five are Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Bubba Wallace, and Martin Truex Jr.
Lap eleven, Kyle Larson passes Christopher Bell for second. Tyler Reddick has a lead of over half a second.
Lap 13, Tyler Reddick has a near one second lead on Kyle Larson; Chrisotpher Bell, Bubba Wallace, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Lap 19, Bubba Wallace gets loose but saved the car and the track stays green.
Tyler Reddick has a lead of over a second on Kyle Larson; Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Lap 29, Tyler Reddick has a near one second lead on Kyle Larson; Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Lap 31, Kyle Larson has closed the gap on leader Tyler Reddick to under half a second.
Six of the eight playoff drivers are in the top 10.
Lap 33, William Byron begins the cycle of green flag pit stops.
Lap 34, leader Tyler Reddick is among the drivers making a pit stop. Kyle Larson is the new leader.
Lap 35, Kyle Larson comes down pit road. Brad Keselowski is the new leader.
Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez nearly made contact on pit road.
Tyler Reddick loses a second on pit road to Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott. There is a traction issue coming out of the pit box.
Lap 41, the top seven drivers have yet to make a pit stop. Drivers on older tires are losing over a second a lap on the cars with fresher tires.
Lap 43, Brad Keselowski makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Justin Haley. Chase Elliott passes Haley for the lead.
Lap 45, the top five are Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Bubba Wallace.
The caution flag comes out on lap 47 when Kyle Larson hits the wall. Larson has a flat tire but it isn’t clear which came first – the flat tire or hitting the wall. The caution flag comes out when the tire carcass got loose on the track.
Kyle Larson reports that the tire went down first.
Several drivers come down pit road for fresh tires. Chase Elliott wins the race off of pit road with Bubba Wallace in second and Tyler Reddick in third.
After staying out on the track, Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 54. Drivers get three wide and Bubba Wallace charges through to take the lead with Chase Elliott in second.
Lap 55, the top five are Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Christopher Bell.
Lap 56, teammates Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick battle for the lead with Reddick taking the spot.
Lap 57, Chase Elliott moves up to battle with Bubba Wallace for second. Ryan Blaney is back in forth.
Lap 60, Tyler Reddick has a near second lead on Bubba Wallace; Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Christohpher Bell round out the top five.
Lap 62, six of the playoff drivers are in the top 10 with Joey Logano and Kyle Larson back in the field.
Lap 63, Chase Elliott continues to battle with Bubba Wallace for second.
Lap 64, Tyler Reddick has a near second and a half lead on Bubba Wallace; Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Lap 71, Tyler Reddick is running away from the field; he is now nearly three and a half seconds in front of Bubba Wallace; Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Chrisotpher Bell round out the top five.
Lap 73, rookie driver Carson Hocevar battles with Christopher Bell for fifth. Hocevar takes the spot.
Five laps remain in stage one, Tyler Reddick holds a near three and a half second lead on Bubba Wallace.
Three laps remain in stage one, Tyler Reddick continues to increase his lead.
Tyler Reddick wins stage one for his third stage one win in a row.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Tyler Reddick
Bubba Wallace
Chase Elliott
Ryan Blaney
Carson Hocevar
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
William Byron
Alex Bowman
Martin Truex Jr
Drivers come down pit road for service with Ryan Blaney winning the race off of pit road. After a nudge form Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Chris Buescher gets turned around coming into his pit box. Kyle Larson had to wait to get into his pit box. Tyler Reddick lost six spots on pit road.
Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 88 with Bubba Wallace alongside. Chase Elliott quicky makes it a three way battle. Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace battle for the lead.
Chase Elliott takes the lead with Bubba Wallace in second; Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Lap 90, Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin battle for third. Tyler Reddic makes it a three way battle.
Lap 92, Chase Elliott leads the race with Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney in a battle for second; Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Ryan Blaney gets around Bubba Wallace to take second.
Drivers are spread out across the track.
Lap 96, Chase Elliott has a lead of over half a second on Ryan Blaney; Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Bubba Wallace is very loose and has nearly wrecked several times.
Carson Hocevar passes Bubba Wallace for fifth.
Lap 100, Chase Elliott’s lead is down to under half a second on Ryan Blaney; Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.
Tyler Reddick reports that one of his tires “feels odd”. Reddick is currently in fourth place.
Lap 102, Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin have caught leader Chase Elliott and are bumper to bumper.
Lap 104, Denny Hamlin passes Ryan Blaney for second.
Lap 105, leader Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin are separated by just two tenths of a second; Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.
Lap 110, Chase Elliott has a half second lead on Denny Hamlin; Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.
Lap 114, Ryan Blaney comes down pit road after hitting the wall. He reports that the car needs to turn in the corners a lot better.
Lap 115, William Byron also comes down pit road as the green flag pit stops begin.
Stilled mired back in the field at 21st, Kyle Larson reports that the car still isn’t working the way he needs it to.
Chase Elliott makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Denny Hamlin. Elliott quickly unlaps himself after the pit stop put him one lap down. There are 17 cars on the lead lap.
Christopher Bell and William Byron unlap themselves to put 19 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 123, Denny Hamlin and Carson Hocevar make their green flag pit stops. Tyler Reddick is the new leader.
Lap 124, Tyler Reddick comes down pit road and gives the lead over to Kyle Busch.
Lap 133, Chase Elliott leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Wiliam Byron round out the top five. Tyler Reddick is back in sixth place.
Christopher Bell passes Ryan Blaney for second.
The top six drivers are playoff drivers.
Tyler Reddick passes William Byron for fifth.
Four seconds behind the leader, Tyler Reddick reports that his car is not as good in traffic.
Joey Logano reports a vibration ever since they put oun the latest set of tires.
Lap 142, Kyle Larson passes Joey Logano for 16th.
Lap 143, the top five are Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Christophr Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney.
Lap 150, Chase Elliott continues to lead the race with Denny Hamlin in second; Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney.
The spotters are reporting a severe bee problem. Chase Elliott’s spotter said telling someone not to get stung is like telling a fish to get wet.
Lap 152 Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin battle for the lead. Todd Gilliland gives Chase Elliott a push to hold on to the lead.
Lap 153, Denny Hamlin again tries to pass Chase Elliott for the lead. Slower traffic is ahead of the leaders.
Lap 155, Denny Hamlin continues to challenge and battle Chase Elliott for the lead. Meanwhile Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick battle for third.
Lap 157, Denny Hamlin gets out in front but Chase Elliott continues the battle and retakes the lead with eight lpas remaining in the stage.
Lap 158, Denny Hamlin tries again to pass Chase Elliott for the lead. Elliott is running the high line.
Lap 159, Denny Hamlin finally gets around Chase Elliott for the lead.
Five laps remain in stage two with Denny Hamlin in the lead; Chase Elliott, Chrisotpher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Four laps remain in stage two, Denny Hamlin has put some space between himself and Chase Elliott as he works his way through traffic. There are 31 cars on the lead lap.
Two to go, Tyler Reddick drops down on the track to battle with Christopher Bell for third.
Denny Hamlin wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Denny Hamlin
Chase Elliott
Christopher Bell
Tyler Reddick
Ryan Blaney
William Byron
Martin Truex Jr
Carson Hocevar
Ryan Preece
AJ Allmendinger
Drivers come down pit road for service with Chase Elliott edging out Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin to win the race off of pit road.
Kye Busch was charged with pitting outside of his pit box.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 173 with Christopher Bell alongside. Elliott and Christopher Bell battle for the lead. Elliott edges out in front. Ryan Blaney passes Christopher Bell for second to move up and battle with Chase Elliott for the lead.
Lap 175, the top five are Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Christoher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick.
Lap 176, Chase Elliott drops down to battle with Ryan Blaney for the lead. Chase Elliott takes the lead.
Lap 178, Carson Hocevar is the only driver in the top eight not in the playoffs.
Lap 179, champions Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney continue to battle for the lead.
Lap 180, after numerous issues with his car after getting into the wall, Kyle Larson has entered the top 10 just outside the top five.
Lap 182, Chase Elliott has a third of a second lead on Ryan Blaney; Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five with Kyle Larson in sixth.
On lap 184, Kyle Larson is just two points above the cut line!
With 83 laps to go, Kyle Larson passes Kenny Hamlin for fifth.
The caution flag comes out on lap 187 when Justin Haley spins out again after contact from Ty Gibbs and goes sliding sideways down the track.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Ryan Blaney edging out Chase Elliott to win the race off of pit road.
Ty Gibbs reports that he has no fourth gear.
Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chase Elliott alongside with 76 laps remaining in the race. Blaney jumps out in front for the lead with Christopher Bell in second; Kyle Larson, chase Elliott, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson battle back and forth for fourth with Chase Elliott in third.
After some on track contact, Ty Gibbs brings his car down pit road.
Kyle Larson passes Tyler Reddick for fourth.
With 70 laps remaining in the race, Ryan Blaney has a lead of over half a second on Chase Elliott; Chrisotpher Bell, Kyle Larson, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Tyler Reddick and William Byron battle for fifth.
Lap 201, Ryan Blaney has a lead of over a second on Chase Elliott; Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lap 202, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson battle for third.
The sun is low enough in the sky that is has become an issue for the drivers’ visibility as they run inches from the outside wall.
Lap 205, Ryan Blaney has pulled out to a lead of over a second and a half on Chase Elliott; Kyle Larson, Chrisotpher Bell, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
The drivers have set a track record today with 27 lead changes.
The drivers run inches from the outside wall but are not allowed to use the wall to increase their speed; a ‘la the “Hail Melon” move of a couple years ago.
With 56 laps remaining in the race, Ryan Blaney leads the race with a second and a half lead on Chase Elliott; Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
All 38 cars are still on the track with 33 cars on the lead lap. After making an unscheduled trip down pit road, Ty Gibbs has returned to the track four laps down.
Fifty to go, drivers begin making green flag pit stops.
With 47 laps to go, teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott come down pit road together.
With 46 laps to go, leader Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell come down pit road for service. Tyler Reddick is the new leader.
Back in 14th after his pit stop, Ryan Blaney passes Chase Elliott for 13th.
Back out in front, Tyler Reddick’s crew plans to run as long as possible. With 41 laps remaining in the race, they cannot make it to the end of the race with their current fuel load.
JJ Yeley uses the access road to work his way to pit road to avoid a caution.
With 39 laps to go, Denny Hamlin makes a stop for fresh tires.
Thirty-seven to go, Ryan Blaney has worked his way to second with Chase Elliott in third. Tyler Reddick leads the race.
Lap 235, leader Tyler Reddick has encountered slower traffic.
With 29 laps remaining in the race, leader Tyler Reddick is the only driver who has not mad a pit stop. There are 15 cars on the lead lap with Ryan Blaney is second over 13 seconds back.
Twenty-five to go, the top five are Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott.
With 22 to go, Chase Elliott passes Chrisopher Bell for fourth.
With 21 laps to go, Tyler Reddick’s lead is down to seven seconds over Ryan Blaney; Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Eighteen to go, Ryan Blaney is less than five seconds behind leader Tyler Reddick who is still on old tires.
Denny Hamlin, Christophr Bell, and Chase Elliott battle for position with Hamlin taking fourth.
Fifteen to go, leader Tyler Reddick comes down pit road for service. Ryan Blaney takes the lead.
Back on the track with 14 laps to go, Tyler Reddick returns to the track in 26th.
Kyle Larson brings out the caution flag when he spins out in a three way battle with Ryan Blaney and Austin Dillon.
Just eleven laps remain in the race. Drivers come down pit road for fresh tires. Tyler Reddick stays out on the track after having made a pit stop just two laps before. Ryan Blaney wins the race off of pit road with Denny Hamlin behind him.
Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag restart with Ryan Blaney alongside with just seven laps remaining in the race. Reddick takes the lead as the drivers spread out three and four wide across the track.
Four wide, Denny Hamlin takes the lead.
Ryan Blaney moves up to battle with Denny Hamlin for the lead.
Six to go, Denny Hamlin leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, and Chrisotpher Bell round out the top five.
Four to go, Denny Hamlin holds on to the lead with Ryan Blaney a quarter of a second behind.
Three to go, Denny Hamlin has the lead but the battle continues.
Two to go, Ryan Blaney passes Denny Hamlin for the lead.
Ryan Blaney takes the white flag.
Tyler Reddick comes up on the outside and passes Ryan Blaney to take the win! Reddick becomes the second driver to secure a spot at Phoenix.
The unofficial results of the Straight Talk 400:
Tyler Reddick
Ryan Blaney
Denny Hamlin
Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott
William Byron
Alex Bowman
AJ Allmendinger
Carson Hocevar
Ryan Preece
Josh Berry
Chase Briscoe
Kyle Larson
Michael McDowell
Chris Buescher
Daniel Suarez
Brad Keselowski
Bubba Wallace
Noah Gragson
Todd Gilliland
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Erik Jones
Martin Truex Jr
Harrison Burton
Austin Dillon
John Hunter Nemechek
Austin Cindric
Joey Logano
Daniel Hemric
Zane Smith
Kyle Busch
Kaz Grala
Ross Chastain
Justin Haley
Corey LaJoie
Ty Gibbs
Chad Finchum
JJ Yeley