Joey Logano capitalized on his surprise advancement to the Round of 8 by winning at last Sunday (Oct. 20) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, holding off the dominant car of Christopher Bell through the help of crew chief Paul Wolfe’s brilliant fuel strategy. The win advanced Logano to his sixth Championship 4 — more than any other driver in the NASCAR Cup Series — and put all the drivers currently below the playoff cut line in a world of hurt.
AJ Allmendinger pulled off similar magic in the Xfinity Series race, dominating to the tune of 102 laps led for his first win of the season and his first Championship 4 appearance since 2021.
Cup and Xfinity will be joined by the Craftsman Truck Series — which returns from a two-week hiatus — this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Only three race weekends remain in the 2024 season, and here’s everything you need to know as we inch closer to season’s end.
Round of 8 Standings (3 Races Until Elimination)
| Rank | Driver | Points | Cut line |
| 1 | Joey Logano | 4061 | WIN |
| 2 | Christopher Bell | 4086 | +42 |
| 3 | Kyle Larson | 4079 | +35 |
| 4 | William Byron | 4071 | +27 |
| 5 | Denny Hamlin | 4044 | -27 |
| 6 | Tyler Reddick | 4041 | -30 |
| 7 | Ryan Blaney | 4024 | -47 |
| 8 | Chase Elliott | 4018 | -53 |
The Playoff Consolation Standings
| Rank | Driver | Points | Difference |
| 9 | Alex Bowman | 2232 | |
| 10 | Martin Truex Jr. | 2194 | -38 |
| 11 | Austin Cindric | 2179 | -53 |
| 12 | Daniel Suarez | 2164 | -68 |
| 13 | Ty Gibbs | 2162 | -70 |
| 14 | Brad Keselowski | 2127 | -105 |
| 15 | Chase Briscoe | 2121 | -111 |
| 16 | Harrison Burton | 2087 | -145 |
Best of the Rest
| Rank | Driver | Points | Difference |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | 868 | |
| 18 | Ross Chastain | 851 | -17 |
| 19 | Bubba Wallace | 851 | -17 |
| 20 | Kyle Busch | 735 | -133 |
Quick Track Facts: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Year of completion: 1995
First Cup race: 1999
Last reconfigured/repaved: 2003
Length: 1.5 miles
Banking: 18-20 degrees (turns), 4 degrees (straights)
Homestead By the Numbers
Defending Winner: Christopher Bell
Most Wins: Denny Hamlin (3)
Most Top Fives: Martin Truex Jr. (7)
Most Top 10s: Denny Hamlin & Martin Truex Jr. (12)
Most Poles: Denny Hamlin (3)
Most Laps Led: Kyle Larson (625)
Most Laps Led, Non-Winner: Brad Keselowski (171)
Best Average Finish (min. 5 starts): Chase Elliott (8 starts, 10.4 average finish)
Former Homestead Winners in the field: Denny Hamlin (3), Kyle Busch (2), Christopher Bell (1), William Byron (1), Kyle Larson (1), Joey Logano (1), Martin Truex Jr. (1)
Playoff Driver Statistics at Homestead
Xfinity Series
Defending Race Winner: Sam Mayer
Playoff Standings (2 Races Before Elimination):
- AJ Allmendinger (WIN)
- Justin Allgaier (+32)
- Cole Custer (+16)
- Chandler Smith (+8)
- Austin Hill (-8)
- Jesse Love (-13)
- Sam Mayer (-23)
- Sammy Smith (-53)
Truck Series
Defending Race Winner: Carson Hocevar (Not Entered)
Playoff Standings (2 Races Before Elimination):
- Grant Enfinger (WIN)
- Corey Heim (+30)
- Christian Eckes (+29)
- Ty Majeski (+5)
- Rajah Caruth (-5)
- Taylor Gray (-13)
- Nick Sanchez (-20)
- Tyler Ankrum (-23)
Entry Lists
Cup: 38 entries, 40 spots
Notables: Kaz Grala (RWR No. 15), AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig No. 16), JJ Yeley (NYR No. 44), Chad Finchum (MBM No. 66)
* Unchartered car
Xfinity: 38 entries, 38 spots
Notables: William Sawalich (JGR No. 19), Ryan Truex (SHR No. 26), Connor Zilisch (JRM No. 88)
Truck: 34 entries, 36 spots
Notables: William Sawalich (TRICON No. 1), Connor Mosack (Spire No. 7), Frankie Muniz (AM No. 22), Conor Daly (Niece No. 44), Conner Jones (ThorSport No. 66), Connor Zilisch (Henderson No. 75), Corey Day (MHR No. 91)
Where to Watch
Friday, Oct. 25
2:35 p.m. ET — Truck Practice (No TV Coverage)
3:05 p.m. ET — Truck Qualifying (No TV Coverage)
4:05 p.m. ET — Xfinity Practice (NBC Sports App)
4:40 p.m. ET — Xfinity Qualifying (NBC Sports App)
Saturday, Oct. 26
9:05 a.m. ET — Cup Practice (NBC Sports App)
9:50 a.m. ET — Cup Qualifying (NBC Sports App)
Noon ET — Truck Series Baptist Health 200 (134 laps, 201 miles) (FOX Sports 1)
7 p.m. ET — Xfinity Series Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) (the CW)
Sunday, Oct. 27
2:30 p.m. ET — Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 400 (267 laps, 400.5 miles) (NBC)
Recent News
- After 53 years, NASCAR announced on Wednesday (Oct. 23) that it has officially recognized Bobby Allison’s win in the 1971 Cup race at Bowman-Gray Stadium. Allison is now credited by NASCAR with 85 wins instead of 84, and he now stands alone as the fourth-winningest Cup driver of all time.
Looking Ahead to Next Year
- William Sawalich, who will be running double duty at Homestead and making his Xfinity debut with Joe Gibbs Racing on Saturday (Oct. 26), will compete full time for JGR’s Xfinity program in 2025. Sawalich turned 18 earlier this month and will join Brandon Jones and Taylor Gray as the team’s full-time drivers.
- Frankie Muniz will drive full time for Reaume Brothers Racing in the Truck Series next season, piloting the team’s No. 33 truck. Muniz will replace departing driver Lawless Alan, and the ride will mark Muniz’s first full-time gig in NASCAR’s top three divisions.
Stephen Stumpf is the NASCAR Content Director for Frontstretch and is a three-year veteran of the site. His weekly column is “Stat Sheet,” and he formerly wrote "4 Burning Questions" for three years. He also writes commentaries, contributes to podcasts, edits articles and is frequently at the track for on-site coverage.
Can find on Twitter @stephen_stumpf.