Best of the Rest: Homestead

With three race weekends remaining, NASCAR’s top series arrived in Homestead as their respective seasons wind down. This particular weekend is pivotal to playoff hopes before final eliminations for the Round of 4 in Martinsville, while also allowing the rest of the field to potentially have some surprise success.

Truck Series / Baptist Health 200

Grant Enfinger (#9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet): Following up the previous weekend in Talladega, Enfinger and his single truck team proved to be a legitimate threat come Phoenix. Qualifying 9th, the CR7 team had an impressively solid day. Taking the lead mid race, Enfinger led the final 22 laps en route to his second win in as many weeks.

Connor Mosack (#7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet): The “other” Connor within the Chevrolet development program had an impressive day in Homestead. Making his fifth start in Spire’s #7 entry this season, Mosack qualified 10th and finished third. This was Mosack’s first truck series career Top 5, as he has run a split schedule with Niece Motorsports this year.

Matt Crafton (#88 ThorSport Racing Ford): For veteran Crafton and his #88 ThorSport team, the 2024 season has been far from being able to write home about. The Menards Ford team had much needed strong finish in Homestead as Crafton finished just shy of the Top 10 in 11th. Crafton is a series veteran of 566 starts, but performance has dropped in 2024 with only one Top-5 heading into Martinsville.

Xfinity Series / CreditOne NASCAR AMEX Credit Card 300

Ryan Sieg (#288 RSS Racing Ford): Owner-driver Sieg’s late season charge since switching to #28 continued in Homestead. The Sci Aps Ford driver looked to be in contention early on before coming home in 7th. This was also Sieg’s third Top 10 finish in the last four races as he plays spoiler weekly for those in the Round of 8.

Kyle Weatherman (#91 DGM Racing Chevrolet): Weatherman and DGM’s first full-time season has not been what many anticipated it would be.  Being a consistent mid-pack team most weekends, the DriveSmart #91 Chevrolet showed what they are capable of in Homestead, finishing a respectable 14th after starting 21st. Weatherman and DGM have just two Top 10 finishes this season in Dover, and the summer event in Daytona.

Jeremy Clements (#51 Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet): In a season mirroring Weatherman’s above, owner-driver Clements also had a solid day after disappointing results in much of 2024 thus far. Finishing 16th, Clements earned his best finish since a 12th in Bristol during the summer.

Cup Series / Straight Talk Wireless 400

A.J. Allmendinger (#16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet): Allmendinger returned to Kaulig’s #16 Chevrolet in Homestead with eyes on another trophy hunt. While the win did not materialize, Allmendinger brought his blue and white Worldwide Express entry home 8th for his fifth Top 10 in 16 Cup starts this year. Allmendinger and Homestead have been a good fit, as he has six Top 10 finishes in thirteen career starts at the track.

Carson Hocevar (#77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet): Spire Motorsports and rookie contender Hocevar continued to surprise in Homestead, where he collected his sixth Top-10 this season. The Zeigler Auto Group Chevy driver raced his way towards the front, finishing 9th by race’s end. The Hocevar/Spire pairing has been on of the biggest surprises all season, currently sitting 21st in the standings.

Josh Berry (#4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford): While competing as a rookie contender in Stewart-Haas’ final season as team, Berry has struggled somewhat performance-wise like his teammates for most of the season. Homestead provided a glimpse into Berry’s Cup potential however, as the SHR driver started 12th and finished 11th. With the current version of Stewart-Haas going away at season’s end, Berry has signed to drive the legendary #21 Ford for the Wood Brothers in 2025 (read more on that here).