NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: Baptist Health 200
The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Track Type: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Saturday, October 26
The Time: 12 p.m. ET
The Purse: $769,881
TV: FS1, 12 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 201 miles (134 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series kicks off doubleheader Saturday in South Florida
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Baptist Health 200, the second race of the Round of 8, on Saturday, October 26 at 12 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio – the first of a two-race slate with the NASCAR Xfinity Series later that afternoon (4 p.m. ET).
The 1.5-mile oval South Florida track, Homestead-Miami Speedway, has hosted 27 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races since its inaugural Truck Series event on March 17, 1996 – a race won by Dave Rezendes piloting the No. 7 Geoffrey Bodine Motorsports Ford.
Notably, there have been 24 different race winners in the Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kyle Busch leads the series with three wins in South Florida. Four races have been won from the pole, most recently by Chase Briscoe in 2017.
Here’s a closer look at the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series veterans who have inscribed their name in the Homestead-Miami Speedway record books:
- Race record: Chase Briscoe 135.556 mph (11/17/2017)
- Qualifying record: Jon Wood 173.188 mph (11/16/2007)
- Most races: Matt Crafton (22)
- Most poles: David Reutimann, Joe Ruttman, and Mike Skinner (3)
- Most wins: Kyle Busch (3)
- Most top fives: Jack Sprague (8)
- Most top 10s: Matt Crafton (14)
- Laps led: Kyle Busch (394)
On-track activity for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway kicks off with practice at 2:35 p.m. followed by Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying at 3:05 p.m. EST on Friday, October 25.
Hallowed Grounds: A look at the Playoff history at Homestead-Miami
The 2024 season marks the first time Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted the second race in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Round of 8.
During the Playoff Era (2016-Present) the 1.5-mile track has played host to the Round of 8 finale the past two seasons (2022-2023), and it was home to the Championship Race from 2016-2019 before landing a spot on the regular season schedule for 2020-2021 seasons.
Of those six previous races, only three Playoff drivers have visited Victory Lane: Brett Moffitt (2018), Ty Majeski (2022), and Carson Hocevar (2023). Brett Moffitt is the only driver to have won the championship.
NCTS Playoff Race Winners at Homestead-Miami (2016-2023) | ||||
Date | Race Winner | Season | Race No. | |
Friday, November 18, 2016 | William Byron | 2016 | 23 | |
Friday, November 17, 2017 | Chase Briscoe | 2017 | 23 | |
Friday, November 16, 2018 | Brett Moffitt * | 2018 | 23 | |
Friday, November 15, 2019 | Austin Hill | 2019 | 23 | |
Saturday, October 22, 2022 | Ty Majeski * | 2022 | 22 | |
Saturday, October 21, 2023 | Carson Hocevar * | 2023 | 22 | |
Approaching Homestead: Playoff Contender’s Career Performances
As the competitors jump back into action at Homestead this weekend, the pressure to survive and advance to the coveted Championship 4 Round increases. A win at the 1.5-mile oval by a Playoff contender would guarantee their spot.
All Playoff drivers have given Homestead-Miami Speedway a go in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, making this weekend that much more intense.
Here’s a look at how our eighth Playoff drivers have performed at Homestead previously.
Rank | Driver | Races | Poles | Wins | Top Fives | Top 10s | DNFs | Average Finish |
1 | Grant Enfinger (P) | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 10.7 |
2 | Corey Heim (P) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4.0 |
3 | Christian Eckes (P) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9.5 |
4 | Ty Majeski (P) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6.7 |
5 | Rajah Caruth (P) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8.0 |
6 | Taylor Gray (P) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.0 |
7 | Nick Sanchez (P) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17.0 |
8 | Tyler Ankrum (P) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15.0 |
Of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff field, Ty Majeski is the only previous winner.
Down to the Wire: Caruth, Gray, Sanchez, and Ankrum outside Championship 4 cutline
With one spot in the Championship 4 Round secured by Grant Enfinger, the rest of the competitors are certainly starting to feel the heat. As the Round of 8 finale is one week closer, the drivers currently sitting below the cutline are Rajah Caruth (-5), Taylor Gray (-13), Nick Sanchez (-20), and Tyler Ankrum (-23).
In his first Playoff appearance, Spire Motorsport’s Rajah Caruth finished fourth at Talladega Superspeedway and left the 2.66-mile paved oval five points back from the Championship 4 cutline.
Another driver in his first Playoff appearance below the cutline is TRICON Garage’s Taylor Gray. Despite finishing second at ‘Dega, the 19-year-old is 13 points back from the final transfer position.
Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez had a rough day at Talladega finishing 22nd after starting on the front row. The driver of the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet now sits 20 points back from the cutline. The 23-year-old made it to the Round of 8 for a second consecutive season. As the Miami, Florida native returns to his home track, he hopes to capture the checkered flag and secure his spot in the Championship 4 for the first time.
McAnally-Hilgemann’s Tyler Ankrum heads to Homestead ranked eighth in the Playoff stands – 23 points back from the fourth and final spot in the Championship 4 Round.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Outlook Following Talladega Superspeedway (October 4, 2024)
Rank | Driver | Points | Starts | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
1 | Grant Enfinger (P) | 3,066 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 7 | In On Win |
2 | Corey Heim (P) | 3,078 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 48 | 30 |
3 | Christian Eckes (P) | 3,077 | 20 | 3 | 9 | 39 | 29 |
4 | Ty Majeski (P) | 3,053 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 24 | 5 |
5 | Rajah Caruth (P) | 3,048 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 10 | -5 |
6 | Taylor Gray (P) | 3,040 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -13 |
7 | Nick Sanchez (P) | 3,033 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 18 | -20 |
8 | Tyler Ankrum (P) | 3,030 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 7 | -23 |
Time Is Ticking’: Clinch Scenarios for Homestead Miami Speedway
Only two races remain in the Round of 8 for the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff contenders to clinch their spot in the Championship 4 Round. Here are the clinch scenarios for this weekend:
Already Clinched
The following driver has clinched a spot in the 4-driver field of the next round: Grant Enfinger.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 3rd winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Corey Heim or Christian Eckes.
- Corey Heim: Could only clinch with help
- Christian Eckes: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Ty Majeski or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 2nd winless driver in the standings.
- Corey Heim: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Corey Heim, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth, Taylor Gray, Nicholas Sanchez, Tyler Ankrum.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.
Frankie Muniz to join Reaume Brothers Racing full-time in 2025 – Frankie Muniz will be the full-time driver of the No. 33 Ford for Reaume Brothers Racing for the 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season.
Muniz has made two starts with Reaume Brothers Racing this season (Nashville, Kansas), and with two races remaining, he aims to continue building chemistry with the team and developing his notebook for the upcoming year.
“I’m incredibly excited to join Reaume Brothers Racing full-time in 2025,” Muniz said. “My longstanding relationship with Ford has been a game changer, and I am thrilled to help facilitate additional support allowing us to tap into their exceptional technical and engineering resources. I’m confident that this synergy will elevate Reaume Brothers Racing and help us achieve great things together. I can’t wait to get started.”
Muniz’s last full-time effort took place in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023, where he collected one top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, culminating in a fourth-place points finish in the standings.
Muniz joined Ford Performance in 2023 and has since competed in limited races in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Mustang Challenge Series.
Dawson Sutton promoted to full-time in 2025 – Dawson Sutton will drive for Rackley W.A.R. full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2025. Sutton is expected to pilot the No. 26 Chevrolet.
The 18-year-old made his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut earlier this season at North Wilkesboro. Recently, the team announced that the Lebanon, Tennessee native would assume the role of primary driver of the No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet beginning at Kansas where he recorded his career-best finish of fifth.
“This is really a phenomenal opportunity,” Sutton said. “I’ve dreamed for this day to come, and my goal is to make it to the NASCAR Cup Series that represents the best of the best. It’s all a little hard to believe right now, but I know a have a big job to do and that’s exactly how I look at it.”
“I really don’t think there’s anything he can’t do,” said Rackley W.A.R. team co-owner Willie Allen. “He has a great work ethic; he doesn’t take any of this for granted. He works hard to be the best he can be no matter what the situation. He’s had a short learning curve in everything he’s attempted, and I don’t see any reason that wouldn’t continue in the [NASCAR CRAFTSMAN] Truck Series. We place a lot of confidence in him to represent this team and any of our partners very well going forward.”
— NASCAR —