Kyle Larson poised to clinch NASCAR Cup title at Homestead-Miami

NASCAR's playoff finale returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend, a venue the piece argues is the right place to decide championships. Its high speeds, variable banking and medium length are cited as strengths, alongside recent renovations and its South Florida setting.

The track was built after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, with the aim of supporting the local economy. International Speedway Corp. bought it in 2001 and reconfigured it as a 1.5-mile oval with progressive banking, and it hosted the season finale from 2002 to 2019 before this year's return.

Kyle Larson heads into the race with a 67-point lead over Christopher Bell, with Denny Hamlin the only other driver with a mathematical chance. Larson needs only nine points to take the title and has never scored fewer than 18 points in a race at Homestead.