Kyle Busch has revealed that NASCAR Championship Weekend is set for a stunning comeback to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2026, marking a return to one of racing’s most dynamic venues. The official announcement came through a social media video, where Kyle Busch, alongside Brad Keselowski, delighted fans with the highly anticipated news. The Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series title races will all unfold at Homestead from November 6 to 8, 2026, reigniting excitement after Phoenix Raceway’s recent run as host for the last five championships.
This return marks an important shift for NASCAR and its fans, as Homestead had long hosted the season finale from 2002 to 2019. In recent years, Phoenix Raceway took over those duties, but racing enthusiasts and drivers alike have campaigned for the return of NASCAR’s grand finale to the fast, challenging 1.5-mile Homestead oval. The venue is well-known for its thrilling finishes and competitive racing, which played a key role in the decision to bring the championship back south.
Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief venue and racing innovation officer, explained the motivations behind the move:
“We talked about it for quite a while. But we felt this was the right opportunity, the right time to do it,”
he told Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic. Kennedy highlighted the recent leadership of Homestead’s new president, Guillermo Santa Cruz, praising the track’s ability to deliver amazing races and describing the 2026 weekend as an important moment to energize the sport.
In addition to the upcoming return, Kennedy outlined a new approach for future seasons, stating that after 2026, NASCAR’s Championship Weekend will rotate among different tracks nationwide. Phoenix, which recently modernized its facilities, remains an important part of this new rotation and is expected to hold a key position in the playoff schedule, including the semifinal round from next season onward. This marks a bold shift for NASCAR, reflecting its willingness to adapt and innovate with each passing year.
The Homestead-Miami Speedway, built in 1995, has become a legendary site in the world of racing, though age and wear were cited as factors for its replacement by Phoenix for the 2020 finale. According to Bianchi, NASCAR is now actively planning significant infrastructural improvements at Homestead ahead of its high-profile return. Kennedy confirmed,
“We have a very long menu list of items that we could do to [Homestead]. I think a lot of it is going to be looking to expand our hospitality footprints to make the midway and activation areas more user-friendly. And then we’ve also looked at some options in the infield, as well.”
For fans and competitors alike, Kyle Busch’s announcement not only brings renewed excitement for the 2026 Championship Weekend, but also signals the beginning of a fresh era for NASCAR. The promise of improved facilities, dynamic race formats, and high-stakes competition is set to reinvigorate the finale. As Kyle Busch continues to inspire enthusiasm throughout the NASCAR community, the attention now turns to how these changes will impact the future of the sport, and what unforgettable moments may arise at the newly revamped Homestead-Miami Speedway.
