Next weekend’s race at Homestead-Miami is laced with multiple nuances. With two races left to know which drivers comprise the Final 4, the urgency to win has come to the fore. The only eligible driver with a tinge of relief on his face will be Kyle Larson. Larson won in Las Vegas by the thinnest of margins to beat pole-winner Christopher Bell and would have been fighting for a spot had he not been 0.082 seconds faster. Larson could be on his way to a second successive win in the Round of 8 with the pace the #5 possesses. However, under the radar remains a veteran, Kevin Harvick, who has the experience of winning this vital race at Homestead.

The 2014 champion has some of his career’s most lovely memories at the track, including celebrating a championship with his family at the venue. To add to their pursuit of a win at Homestead, alcoholic beverage company Budweiser has also chimed into the conversation, bringing back an iconic paint scheme for the #4.

Kyle Larson is the man to beat at Homestead

The Homestead-Miami Speedway has witnessed the crowning of NASCAR Cup Series champions for more than two decades. Throughout history, the venue has had a notable reputation for being NASCAR’s go-to track for championship-deciding races. Fast forward to 2023, and Homestead is still the launchpad for drivers to join the fray of title contenders.

When discussing the chances of drivers at Homestead, the first name that comes to mind is Kyle Larson. The #5 driver is the best-performing person at the venue among his competitors. With an average finish of 2.5 since February 2020, Larson is close to making it a second win on the trot. Larson is also the defending champion of the 4EVER 400 and exudes confidence after a win at Las Vegas. This is surprising, considering Larson got his maiden win at the track in last year’s Round of 8 race.

Larson also has led a staggering 204 laps at Homestead, which implies that not just taking the lead but Larson has also done a great job in holding on to it. The 30-year-old has always been strong in finishing races as the leader and rarely fumbles a solid lead.

His fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver, William Byron, was the winner of the race in 2021 and is also among some of the best drivers in the series. Currently No.1 seeded, Byron could also emerge as a potential challenger to Larson’s speed. Denny Hamlin was the last JGR driver to win a race here during his 2020 blitzkrieg.

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Kevin Harvick could repeat his championship-winning performance from 2014

Kyle Larson might be the defending champion of the venue, but he has never been a championship winner at the venue like Kevin Harvick has. To hype things up, Harvick will even have the same paint scheme he had nine years ago as he sped past Ryan Newman to claim the championship. The only difference in these two scenarios is that Stewart-Haas Racing was supplied by Chevrolet back then, which has changed to a Ford Mustang in current times.

Surprisingly, that is the only win he has managed on this track in a glittering career. Budweiser, Busch Light, and SHR are collaborating to give the fans a look at the iconic red and white livery that won the first-ever elimination-based edition of the Cup Series—a fitting tribute to a departing legend.

“Just with the way everything went, and the great call and the race at the end and everything that happened with coming to Stewart-Haas Racing that first year,” said Kevin Harvick, speaking to Racer.com as he reminisces about the historic day.

“All the adversity that we had at the beginning of the year, how fast the cars were, and then putting it all together in one day to win the championship, I think that single race is probably the one that I would circle just because of everything that happened and everything that it summarized and wound up, ultimately, with a championship at the end.”

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Could we see a repeat of 2014 on Sunday? The chances are pretty low since the hopeful championship drivers won’t let it pass. Do we want to see a repeat of 2014 on Sunday? Yes, why not?