Rumors and speculation, the NASCAR community has been full of them ever since the buzz began about the Championship 4 race moving away from Phoenix. The stock car racing world seems to be divided at the next destination for the season-finale, with some believing that Phoenix Raceway should continue hosting the race. From rotating venues to Homestead-Miami, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, every option has been explored with no official word from NASCAR yet.

Not one to be left behind, Denny Hamlin has also weighed in, picking his side for the championship decider. He has also gone on to highlight the underlying reasons which may prompt NASCAR to make the controversial switch.

Denny Hamlin compares Phoenix to Homestead-Miami

It’s no secret that Homestead-Miami Speedway was considered a fitting arena for a Championship 4 race. High tire wear, abundant overtaking opportunities, and a beautiful sunset made it the perfect stage of a high-stakes race, one that provided drivers with a challenging but enjoyable experience. That’s why NASCAR’s decision to switch to Phoenix Raceway in 2020 came as such a shock, as many fans felt that if the season finale continued to deliver, why fix something that isn’t broken?

Unfortunately, the decision was motivated by plenty of factors, many of them rooted in commercial reasons. Revealing his thoughts about the prospect of the season-finale being moved, Denny Hamlin said on the Actions Detrimental podcast, “I do believe though that in Phoenix, the Phoenix atmosphere in the infield is a little bit better than Homestead. Homestead, I think it’s time for some upgrades there, to that facility.” The veteran racer went on to say, “The fans just feel like it’s closer, it’s more intimate. You’re surrounded by these mountains. It’s just, it’s got everything.”

It’s clear that Denny Hamlin is a fan of Phoenix Raceway, and it’s not hard to see why. ‘The Desert Oddball’ underwent a $178 million renovation in 2018, making the venue fit for the Championship 4 race. In comparison, Homestead-Miami Speedway looks tired and outdated, and in dire need of upgrades. But that’s not all, as NASCAR is paid millions for the race to be held at the 1-mile dogleg oval, giving the sanctioning body an added incentive to maintain the status quo. Even though the racing has suffered at times at the venue, the new soft compound could prove to be the difference maker from this year onwards.

Despite it all, rumors continue to circulate about a potential change. Recently, Homestead-Miami Speedway’s website has a listing of the ‘2026 NASCAR Cup Series Reserved Grandstand’, with the date being November 1st of next year. That’s roughly the same time as the season finale, sparking speculation amongst the fans. William Byron saying, “I think it’s due for hopefully being the final race. It sounds like that’s what’s gonna happen” has only intensified that buzz, with social media going into overdrive.

While a return to Homestead might seem like a realistic possibility, Bubba Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft has dispelled the rumors. Speaking on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, he said, “They were flying drivers out there, Tuesday or Wednesday, to announce this finale. Something happened and it’s fallen apart funding-wise.” With Miami hosting six matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, moving to the 1.5-mile next year might not be the best timing either. This may mean that NASCAR could look towards Las Vegas Motor Speedway as another viable option, now that the fans’ favorite is out of the picture.

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Is Las Vegas a realistic destination for the season finale?

With Homestead-Miami potentially out of the picture, what are the alternatives that NASCAR can consider? Back in December 2024, NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell dropped a bold proposition, saying that the season-finale could be rotated. Freddie Kraft reiterated it as well, going on to say, “I think starting next year, we’re going into a rotation.” However, the other possibility is also that the Championship 4 race could take place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Some big guns in the NASCAR world have expressed their support at ‘The Diamond in the Desert’ hosting the race. Michael Waltrip wrote on X, “I’d love to see the @NASCAR Championship race at the @LVMotorSpeedway Would you? @MarcusSMI.” Even though the track has seen its fair share of pit blunders, the 1.5-mile tri-oval hasn’t been a wreck fest like the races at Daytona, Atlanta, and COTA.

A lack of controversy combined with an entertaining race is what NASCAR should ideally aim for, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway provides both. Since it’s located in ‘Sin City’, the glitz and glamor that should accompany a race of this nature is already present, and the November weather will also prove to be favorable for both drivers and fans. There’s no reason why NASCAR cannot consider it a viable option, as long as it works out from a financial standpoint. Do you think the sanctioning body should switch to a rotating format? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!