The debate has been going on for years. Ever since NASCAR changed its season-finale venue to Phoenix Raceway in 2020, an outspoken section of the fanbase has been wanting to return to Homestead-Miami Speedway once again. Sure, ‘The Desert Oddball’ has had its moments, such as the final lap drama between Joey Logano and Ross Chastain in 2022. However, fans can be a nostalgic bunch, and many fondly recall the chaotic but thrilling finishes at the 1.5-mile oval.

That’s why, a recent update on the Homestead-Miami Speedway website has caused plenty of speculation in the NASCAR world. Whether it’s a mistake or a clue, fans are already divided about what could be a significant change to the calendar in the 2026 season.

A baseless rumor or a return to the Championship 4 roots?

Homestead-Miami Speedway holds a special place in the hearts of NASCAR fans. The venue has hosted the season finale since 2002, delivering some of the most exciting races the sport has ever seen. The intermediate track is known for its high tire wear and unique layout, allowing plenty of passing opportunities, which plays to the strength of the Next-Gen car. Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney summed it up perfectly when he said, “I think everyone loves Homestead. It’s one of the most fun places we go to.”

If recent rumors and an unverified clue are to be believed, it seems like the season-finale race may end up at Homestead-Miami Speedway once again. As per nascarrumornostalgia on Instagram, the track’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 around the same time the Championship 4 race is held on the calendar, and it is a Sunday! This is leading to speculation that the Bill France Cup will return to South Florida once again.

But before we jump to conclusions, let’s not forget why the venue was changed in the first place. Phoenix Raceway underwent significant renovations in 2018, and the modern facilities were perfect for an event of this magnitude. The venue is also located close to traditional TV audiences such as Las Vegas and Los Angeles, which means there is no clash in broadcasting time to get maximum eyeballs watching the Championship 4 event. NASCAR also decided to make the change to expand its market, a key factor that remains relevant to this day.

So why would the sanctioning body choose to go back to Homestead-Miami, just six years after making the shift? Well, in April 2024, the Homestead City Council approved a proposal to bring the championship race back in 2026, citing how big an economic impact it would make for the local community. Homestead Vice Mayor Sean Fletcher has been at the forefront of the effort, saying, “We are in very high hopes that Homestead will be the championship host for 2026. It’s a big deal for the city of Homestead. I think it’s the perfect race for the drivers; they love the track. It’s a driver’s racetrack. And that’s a great time of year (in November) to be in South Florida.”

Adding to the speculation, Hendrick Motorsports #24 William Byron recently confirmed some of these Homestead Miami rumors in an interview with Frontstretch. “I think it’s due for hopefully being the final race. It sounds like that’s what’s gonna happen,” said Byron when asked about Homestead returning to its championship status ahead of the race this weekend.

However, only time will tell if these rumors are true. It all might depend on how the 2025 Straight Talk Wireless 400 goes, especially in challenging circumstances because of the ongoing fire in Southern Florida.

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Homestead-Miami Speedway’s rumor leaves NASCAR fans buzzing

As expected, it didn’t take long for NASCAR fans to weigh in about the prospect of the season-finale being held at Homestead-Miami Speedway once again. While the majority of the fanbase wants the Bill France Cup to return to the 1.5-mile oval, not every motorsports enthusiast is keen for the title race to take place in Southern Florida. Hoping for the status quo to be maintained, a fan said, “Phoenix should stay as the finale.”

Looking at the alleged ‘leak’, an Instagram user couldn’t help but pray that the Championship 4 event will return to its roots. The motorsports fan went on to say, “Oh God, please let this one be true…” The intermediate track has seen plenty of entertaining races for the silverware, ever since the playoff format was introduced in 2014. On that note, a fan couldn’t help but write, “Championship weekend great again in Homestead??? Please 🙏”

However, not every enthusiast jumped to conclusions based on unverified information. An Instagram fan noticed that the date mentioned was November 1st, which is typically when the penultimate race of the season is held. Dispelling rumors, the fan wrote, “Just so yall know, finale weekend is usually the weekend of the 7th-10th like around those days, so this would be the weekend before.”

While the sanctioning body has held internal discussions about the prospect of switching from Phoenix Raceway, the underlying motivation has been to expand NASCAR’s market. However, plenty of fans have been calling for a return to Homestead-Miami, and the ‘rumor’ prompted a fan to conclude, “NASCAR LISTENED TO US!!!!!!!!!!!” Only time will tell if there is any merit to the so-called ‘leak’ on the track’s website.

What do you think? Will NASCAR go back to its roots so soon? Let us know in the comments!