Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion and current team co-owner Jimmie Johnson supports NASCAR’s decision to relocate the season-ending Championship 4 race from Phoenix to Homestead-Miami Speedway starting next year. Johnson favors this move because it brings the finale closer to Miami Beach, offering a more appealing atmosphere than the desert setting of Phoenix.
While there is speculation that NASCAR might rotate the season finale among different tracks in the future, no official announcement about this plan has been made yet. Johnson sees potential in moving the race to different venues, believing it could generate excitement and draw new fans.
I think moving the championship race around is a good idea,
Johnson said on the Rubbin’ Is Racing podcast.
Whenever you come to a new market and have such a moment taking place, you get a lot of interest and people want to come see it. So I think that’s a good move.
—Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR team co-owner and seven-time champion
Why Johnson Prefers Homestead-Miami Speedway for Championship Events
Johnson’s enthusiasm for Homestead-Miami goes beyond its location near the beach; it holds a special place in his career history. He won all seven of his NASCAR Cup championships at Homestead, making it a venue filled with personal significance.
I clearly am very biased for Homestead,
Johnson admitted.
I’ve had so much success down there and won all seven of my championships there.
—Jimmie Johnson
He also referenced the recent NASCAR All-Star Race in North Wilkesboro to illustrate the type of competitive excitement he believes a championship race should have.
Watching (the NASCAR All-Star Race last week at) North Wilkesboro, that was a damn good show, and I think that’s what people want to have for a championship race,
Johnson said. —Jimmie Johnson
Concerns Over Track Selection for Future Championship Races
Despite his openness to rotating the finale location, Johnson stresses that the chosen tracks must provide a fair and balanced competition. He expressed hesitation about having the championship decided on unpredictable circuits like Daytona, Talladega, or road courses, which can introduce too much chaos through crashes or spins.
Johnson pointed out the challenges of deciding a championship on superspeedways, where drafting and wrecks play a significant role, making the outcome less dependent on driver skill and car performance.
I think that a superspeedway race would be the one where (a championship-deciding race) shouldn’t happen, there’s just so much outside of a driver’s control,
he explained. —Jimmie Johnson
He added that the cutoff race should be the farthest extent of superspeedway involvement on the schedule to avoid wreck-induced outcomes determining championships.
Potential New Venues and the Difficulty of Selecting the Perfect Track
Johnson recently participated in a NASCAR owners meeting where various tracks were suggested for future championship finales. While he did not finalize any preference, he mentioned Kansas Speedway as a strong candidate due to its competitive racing style.
I didn’t get too far down the road but when I think about Kansas and how racy that mile and a half is. That’s one that came to mind quickly,
Johnson observed.
We seem to have really good finishes there, so maybe that’s it for now — but I need to do some more thinking about it.
—Jimmie Johnson
Johnson acknowledged the difficulty in choosing a permanent championship venue and noted this challenge makes the idea of rotating the finale more appealing.
It’s hard to pick one so I do like the idea of moving it around,
he added. —Jimmie Johnson
Implications of NASCAR’s Decision to Move the Championship Race Back to Homestead
Shifting the championship race back to Homestead-Miami Speedway marks a significant change for NASCAR enthusiasts, reconnecting the finale with a venue tied to historic moments in series history. Johnson’s strong backing of this move highlights its importance to both drivers and fans.
By placing the finale near an iconic location like Miami Beach, NASCAR may enhance fan engagement and atmosphere while providing a fair, quality racing environment. Although rotating the finale among various venues remains a possibility, ensuring equitable competition at each track will be crucial for maintaining the integrity of the championship.
As NASCAR prepares for these changes in 2024, fans and drivers alike will be watching closely to see how these adjustments impact the excitement and fairness of the season-ending showdown.
