Straight Talk Wireless 400:
The NASCAR season is officially winding down, as there are only three races left for 2024. The Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway is the second race in the Round of 8. The Xfinity 500 at Martinsville will be the last chance for the playoff drivers to qualify for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix on November 10.
Joey Logano has already punched his ticket to the championship race after winning last week in Las Vegas. Will another driver secure his spot or will somebody outside the top eight take the checkered flag?
How to Watch The Straight Talk Wireless 400
When: Sunday, October 27, 2024
Where: Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, FL
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
2024 NASCAR Cup Series Standings
In this round, the top eight had their point totals reset to 4,000 and then the proper bonus points were applied. After one race, Logano has a win and is officially in the final four, despite entering this round with the fewest points among eligible drivers.
Here are the drivers by standings order (bonus points in parentheses):
- Christopher Bell (86)
- Kyle Larson (79)
- William Byron (71)
- Joey Logano (61)
- Denny Hamlin (44)
- Tyler Reddick (41)
- Ryan Blaney (24)
- Chase Elliott (18)
Bell had a strong showing at Las Vegas and finished second, won Stage 2, and led the most laps, but it was Logano who picked up his second win of the playoffs and third of the season. Reddick won Stage 1 for the second consecutive race, but finished 36th. Byron was the only other top-five finisher alongside Logano and Bell last week. has two playoff wins and Logano has one, so the “Elite Eight” of NASCAR has only accounted for 50% of the wins in these higher-stakes races.
2024 NASCAR Cup Championship Playoffs Format
There are 10 races in the playoffs, with the first nine grouped into sets of three. A win in one of those races automatically clinches a berth in the next set of races.
The bottom four drivers after each set of three will be eliminated from contention for the championship. Bonus points continue to matter and will be accumulated through the postseason.
Here are the playoff races:
Round of 16
Quaker State 400 (Atlanta) – Sunday, September 8
Go Bowling at The Glen (Watkins Glen) – Sunday, September 15
Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Bristol) – Saturday, September 21
Round of 12
Hollywood Casino 400 (Kansas) – Sunday, September 29
YellaWood 500 (Talladega) – Sunday, October 6
Bank of America Roval 400 (Charlotte) – Sunday, October 13
Round of 8
South Point 400 (Las Vegas) – Sunday, October 20
Straight Talk Wireless 400 (Homestead-Miami) – Sunday, October 27 (we are here)
Xfinity 500 (Martinsville) – Sunday, November 3
Championship
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race (Phoenix) – Sunday, November 10
Straight Talk Wireless 400 Winners
Homestead-Miami Speedway used to only be used for the final race of the season, but that changed a few years ago. Many of the top drivers have won here, though it is worth noting that Byron’s 2021 win came on the road course, as events were shifted due to the COVID pandemic.
Bell is the reigning champ here, while Larson won in 2022. Hamlin won in 2020 when the race was moved from March 22 to June 14 due to COVID. Logano won back in 2018. Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch are the other active drivers with wins in Miami.
Straight Talk Wireless 400 Predictions
For the latest odds and VSiN’s NASCAR Best Bets, head to our NASCAR Hub to see Steve Makinen’s simulation results and more stats on the drivers.
