The best-laid plans often go awry, and this year, Homestead-Miami Speedway might be proving that old adage true. Last year, the 1.5-mile track in South Florida witnessed a thrilling race. During the playoff race last October, Tyler Reddick pulled off a breathtaking last-lap pass on Ryan Blaney, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. With heavy hitters like Reddick and others topping the predictive models, a catastrophic news update threatens to derail everything.

The City of Homestead is now grappling with a natural disaster. Following the California wildfires earlier in 2025, this new calamity has sent waves of anxiety through the community. NASCAR fans are concerned, even though the sport is moving ahead.

Homestead-Miami Speedway disaster update

Just two months ago, 8 devastating wildfires ravaged large areas of Los Angeles. Now, a similar calamity has struck South Florida. Grassfires have consumed over 24,000 acres in the Homestead area. Adding to the concern, these fires are dangerously close to the Homestead-Miami Speedway track. Hurricane Chaser Chase on X, a South Florida-area storm chaser, reports that major fires are burning as close as three miles south of the racetrack. Furthermore, a section of US Highway 1, one of the two main roads near the track, is closed due to poor visibility.

Despite the ensuing disaster, NASCAR has yet to issue any official statement. The City of Homestead’s official X account posted that everything is still on schedule. Their post included cautionary instructions as well as the latest updates. “Emergency teams continue monitoring the fire. Health: Limit outdoor exposure, keep windows closed. Traffic: US 1 closing intermittently, Card Sound Road closed. Power: Repairs underway. Safety: Fire 30% contained. NASCAR: Events remain on schedule.” Another post reassured that NASCAR will not postpone its activities while posting a horrifying picture of the fires. “There is a NASCAR race scheduled there this weekend in Miami Dade, Florida.”

NASCAR racing is scheduled to begin on Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health 200 will take place on Friday. The Xfinity Series Hard Rock Bet 300 will hit the track for its 300-miler on Saturday. Lastly, the Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 400 will kick off on Sunday. Yet according to FOX Sports pit reporter Jamie Little, the brush fires paint an unpleasant picture. Little tweeted: “This is wild. Brush fires so close to the racetrack in Florida. Highway shutdown to The Keys. Hotel change for us.”

Despite NASCAR’s silence, journalist Bob Pockrass tried to figure out what plans may be underway. He tweeted, “Right now Homestead is on as scheduled. The plan is the same as any week—if the race can’t happen on day scheduled and if not, the next day available. If for some reason can’t get it in before needing to move to next race, work with broadcast partner to find a date to reschedule.”

As officials and insiders try to clarify the calamitous situation, the anticipation is high. In fact, NASCAR fans are very concerned about the race activities.

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Growing calls to potentially cancel the events

If the need arises, people will abandon their bubbling passion. The same appears to be the situation for diehard NASCAR fans. Homestead-Miami Speedway has been a fan favorite, having hosted the Cup Series championship from 2002-2019. Yet people were shocked by the recent pictures of the Florida fires. As the biblical fires encroach upon the track, one fan suggested a wild reshuffling of the schedule. “Looks to me like they will need to move it to the fall. Say after Phoenix?”

Those with respiratory conditions have been cautioned to limit their outdoor exposure as much as possible. Firefighters, using helicopters, are battling the blazes, dropping water on thick smoke plumes while ash falls. Reports detail throat-choking smoke along Southwest 117th Avenue and 344th Street. This situation poses a serious risk to NASCAR fans, who may also experience breathing difficulties. One fan wrote, “This weekend is gonna s–k…Even if everything runs as scheduled, there’s gonna be so much smoke in the air it’ll be impossible to breathe.”

Mother Nature has played spoilsport in many ways for NASCAR races. The most prominent among them have been rain races like the Daytona 500 getting rescheduled. The 2024 Coca-Cola 600 also ended halfway due to incessant rain and broke Kyle Larson’s heart. Yet currently, fans may be wishing for rain due to the wildfires. One wrote, “Things you never thought you’d hear a NASCAR fan say:
“I hope it rains.” 

Another fan was simply worried about the situation that NASCAR fans around Homestead-Miami Speedway are facing. They called for NASCAR to take drastic steps if necessary. “Prayers for those working the fires and for those that live in the area of the fires. I would be okay if they could just reschedule these races or not even have Homestead race for a year and try to work on upgrading the facilities and place a bid back into the championship finale.”

Others were reminded of a similar disaster that engulfed NASCAR 27 years ago. Another bout of wildfires had encroached upon Florida, but this time close to Daytona. “Reminds me of 1998 when the inaugural Daytona night race had to do be delayed from July to October due to wildfires. I can’t remember which day they officially postponed it, but remember the haulers leaving through the smoke as we watched from our hotel balcony.”

The situation is clearly grim for those hoping to enjoy the Homestead-Miami Speedway events. Unless NASCAR or the city manages to bring the brush fires under control, postponement of the races is a real possibility.