NASCAR: Full qualifying order revealed for Homestead playoff race

As a die-hard NASCAR fan with over three decades of racing under my belt, I can’t help but feel the thrill and anticipation that the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway brings. This race has always been a nail-biter, and this year is no exception. The unique format, with its group qualifying sessions, adds an extra layer of excitement to an already intense event.

The Homestead-Miami Speedway is the unique oval track on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar that exclusively features during the playoffs, and it’s set to stage its championship race this coming Sunday afternoon.

The 267-lap race at Homestead, Florida’s four-cornered, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) oval track is the second event in the semifinal stage of a four-race, ten-event playoff series. The action kicked off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last Sunday afternoon.

Apart from those on the playoff schedule but not the regular season, only a few tracks have held races this postseason. Notably, Watkins Glen International, making its debut in the playoffs this year, played host to a race during the Round of 16. Similarly, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval has been hosting the annual cutoff race for the Round of 12 in previous seasons.

On Saturdays, a group-based format will be employed during the single-car session. The groups and their respective order of qualifying are to be decided by a four-factor equation that NASCAR has been utilizing for over four years now. For a comprehensive understanding of this metric, you can find an explanation here.

Any drivers who can no longer compete for the 2024 championship are placed first in their groups, guaranteeing that all eight remaining candidates secure a spot at the end of their groups and that there are exactly four drivers in each group.

In the revised format due to an unforeseen mid-season rule adjustment, the top five quickest drivers from each group will progress to the next round, which is now structured on a group basis.

NASCAR at Homestead: Full qualifying order

Group A

Chad Finchum, No. 66 MBM Motorsports Ford

A.J. Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota

Josh Berry, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford

Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford

Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford

Noah Gragson, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Harrison Burton, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet

Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford

Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota

Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Group B

Here are the drivers and their respective teams in a slightly rephrased format:

Tune into NBC this Sunday, October 27th at 2:30 p.m. ET as they broadcast live from Homestead-Miami Speedway the Straight Talk Wireless 400 race. Last year’s winner, Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing, is currently leading in points. Don’t miss out on the excitement! Sign up for a free trial with FuboTV today to catch all the action!

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