Why would NASCAR abandon a $100 million vision just to settle for second best? With its cutting-edge amenities, next-generation fan experiences, and a championship final befitting racing royalty, NASCAR authorities praised the Phoenix Raceway renovation in 2022 as a model for the future. However, as Homestead-Miami Speedway is ready to host the 2026 championship race with much more modest upgrades in tow, NASCAR is abandoning that model just a few years later.

Ben Kennedy said in an earlier interview this year, echoing a shift in NASCAR’s broader approach to track development. “I think we’re going to continue to be thoughtful about where we invest. It’s about sustainability, not just spectacle.” Ben Kennedy of NASCAR is controlling expectations rather than emulating the opulence of Phoenix. That is a well-thought-out compromise, not a guarantee of excellence.

Cutbacks and promises: Why Homestead is getting a makeover

When NASCAR revealed that Homestead-Miami Speedway would host the 2026 Cup Series Championship, many fans anticipated that the $100 million renovation that turned Phoenix Raceway into a cutting-edge championship venue would be repeated. Nevertheless, Ben Kennedy, a NASCAR executive, immediately established the tone: Homestead will not be another Phoenix, and that is intentional.

Kennedy said in comments shared in an interview with Claire B. Lang, that she shared on X, “You saw the kind of $100 million project we put into the reimagine of Phoenix Raceway. Homestead isn’t a Phoenix Raceway, and it probably won’t be to that level when we come for the championship next year, but we are going to be putting some capital in that facility to make sure it is a championship caliber property when we show up to it next year.”  

That cautious remark reflects a larger change in NASCAR’s strategy, which is now more concerned with sustainability and less with spectacle. Homestead’s improvements are anticipated to be more focused: necessary modifications to improve team operations and fan experience without completely changing the facility’s identity, whereas Phoenix boasted upscale fan amenities, luxury suites, and extensive modernization. The sport’s changing emphasis under his direction is reflected in Kennedy’s remarks. NASCAR seems dedicated to creating astute, site-specific enhancements that strike a balance between financial prudence and competitive prominence, rather than replicating the enormous capital expenditure witnessed in Phoenix.

“It’s a handful of considerations that we take a look at, especially as we think about moving a championship. I would say, first and foremost, it’s fan feedback, and fans ranked Homestead-Miami Speedway as number one on the list of where they’d like to see a championship in the future. From what you guys may have seen and some of the fan sentiment so far, it leans very positive, which is great to see. So we listen to our fans. All of our partners who are broadcast partners, our teams, our drivers, have input on where they’d like to see the championship in the future, a lot of industry stakeholders we’ll collaborate with,” Ben Kennedy said in a press conference held on 05/06/2025.

Since 2020, Phoenix Raceway has hosted the season-ending event after undergoing extensive upgrades to improve the fan experience and update amenities. At first, these improvements were seen as a model for championship venues in the future. Yet, the transfer to Homestead-Miami Speedway, which previously held the championship from 2002 to 2019, suggests a planned decision by NASCAR to deliver variety and fresh experiences to fans by rotating the final destination.

Thanks to this backing, as well as the ongoing fantastic racing at Homestead and the well-known fervor in the South Florida community, which Homestead track president Guillermo Santa Cruz championed, NASCAR was forced to return its championship weekend to Homestead. Nov. 6–8, 2026, is when the three title races will take place.

“I would say, on top of that, as you think about a championship race, ideally, a warm weather kind of climate location. You can’t race everywhere in the world, especially in early November, so there’s a handful of venues and properties that we tend to gravitate towards,” Guillermo added. In addition to offering variety, such a paradigm fosters investment flexibility. Instead of investing heavily in a single permanent final location, NASCAR can customize its upgrades to fit the demands and personality of each venue that is chosen. And with that vision in mind, NASCAR has answered upset fans as well. But what were the fans upset about?

Well, rumors had it that NASCAR was going to move the Clash to another country, preferably Brazil, to draw eyes to the global sport. Fans were very upset about it. But all thanks to Ben Kennedy, who addressed the issue, and said, “It’s more than likely it will stay domestic for 2026.” That’s a relief. But this does not mean the global expansion will wait! It is starting this season with the race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico. The stadium is going to test the capabilities of drivers. But why?

The reason is that Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez sits over 2km above sea level, making the 4.3km lap a breathless experience. And a literal one. To add to the hard place with this rock, all the resorts that NASCAR drivers have to practice for the race are through simulators like iRacing. While it might give them a muscle memory for the map, the body adapting to new conditions takes time. Whatever it may be, let’s just hope the practice run there goes well. There are a lot of eyes on us, more eyes than in any of the open-wheel racing. Recently, NASCAR proved to be the most-watched motorsport!

Trending

1

Kyle Busch Snags a Nearly $2 Billion Sponsor as RCR Prepares for Damage Control

2

“Love You”: Joe Gibbs Grandson in Mourning as Closest Friend of Years Passes Away

3

“Condolences & RIP” NASCAR Community Joins in Mourning as One of Their Own Loses His Mother

4

NASCAR Team Fined $10,000 With Another Sucker Punch After Texas Mayhem Carries On

5

Fans in Stitches as Kyle Busch & Brad Keselowski’s Latest Promotional Package Goes Viral

NASCAR’s Texas triumph: Outpacing F1’s Miami GP’s TV viewership

NASCAR’s 2025 Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway overtook Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix in U.S. broadcast ratings, indicating the sport’s ongoing domestic appeal and marking a significant shift in American motorsports audience. An astounding 4.132 million people watched the NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on Fox. In addition to representing a 25% rise over the previous year’s race, this number made it the weekend’s most-watched athletic event. Viewers around the country were enthralled by the race’s conclusion, which featured Christopher Bell’s triumph.

On the other hand, the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, which was shown by ABC, set a new record for live F1 broadcasts in the United States with 3.1 million viewers. Even with its success, it was not as popular as NASCAR in Texas. The enthusiasm surrounding Lando Norris’s first Formula One victory and the lead-in from an NBA Game 7, which attracted 4.32 million viewers, helped boost the Miami GP’s attendance figures.

While F1’s Miami Grand Prix was broadcast on ABC, another big network, it may have had a different regional reach and advertising tactics than NASCAR’s race, which was broadcast on Fox, a network that is widely accessible. F1’s Miami GP, despite its NBA lead-in, faced fierce competition from other major sports broadcasts. NASCAR’s Texas race benefited from a clear schedule with few rival sporting events. Strong dedication is still shown by NASCAR’s devoted American fan base, which translates into steady viewership figures.

In a 2024 “State of the Sport” address, Phelps acknowledged early-season challenges due to weather-related disruptions but highlighted a strong rebound in viewership as the season progressed. He stated, “As we sit here for our Cup races, we are in the positive numbers. What does that say to me? It says the sport is resilient and the sport is growing.”

This trend emphasizes how strong NASCAR is in the American sports scene, especially in terms of television viewership. While NASCAR’s recent performance suggests a persistent and maybe growing domestic interest, Formula 1 has made notable progress in growing its U.S. viewership. Understanding and utilizing these viewership trends will be essential as both motorsports organizations plan for future expansion to draw in and hold on to viewers in a highly competitive sports broadcasting landscape.