Auto Racing Glance
NASCAR CUP SERIES: DIXIE VODKA 400 (267 laps, 400 miles around a 1.5-mile D-shaped oval), Homestead-Miami Speedway; Homestead, Fla.
TV: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Green flag approximately 3:46 p.m. ET) -- Fox (Radio: Motor Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90).
THIS WEEK: A first-time winner for the second straight week, Christopher Bell won on the Daytona road course last week in a grueling duel with veteran Joey Logano. Was it a statement victory for the 26-year-old in his second Cup season? "I don't know. I'd say that's more for other people to say than me," said Bell, who won in his 38th Cup Series start. "I knew going to Joe Gibbs Racing that this is my time. I'm either going to put up or shut up. I'm very grateful for how it's played out so far between the first two weeks." ... Now comes the first 1.5-mile test of the season, with the Homestead track presenting a unique challenge after two weeks of giant oval (2.5-mile Daytona) and road course racing. ... Denny Hamlin won this race last year in June after years of the track hosting the series finale. ... This is the third of 36 races on the season, and the 23rd series race at the track. ... Only three drivers have won at the track and not also won a Cup championship in their careers -- Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Hamlin -- and all three of them finished second in the standings at least once, meaning only top-tier drivers have historically won at Homestead. ... Hamlin leads the standings with 104 points, followed by Logano (92), Kevin Harvick (83), *Bell (82), Chase Elliott (79), *Michael McDowell (75), Ryan Preece (74), Kurt Busch (65), Austin Dillon (64), Brad Keselowski (64), Cole Custer (54), Kyle Larson (53), Bubba Wallace (52), Martin Truex Jr. (47), Corey LaJoie (38) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (38) making up the 16 drivers who would currently make the 10-race playoffs.
*Denotes race winner and playoff berth. Standings per NASCAR.com.
BEST BETS: Kevin Harvick is this week's favorite at 9/2 with Denny Hamlin right behind at 5/1. Martin Truex Jr. is at 13/2 and Kyle Busch at 15/2 along with Chase Elliott. Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell is 350/1 if you have to have a long shot, but a better option is probably Aric Almirola at 50/1.
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES: CONTENDER BOATS 250 (167 laps, 250.5 miles around a 1.5-mile D-shaped oval), Homestead-Miami Speedway; Homestead, Fla.
TV: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (Green flag approx. 4:46 p.m. ET) -- FS1 (Radio: Motor Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90).
THIS WEEK: The series stays in lockstep with the Cup series and races at the same track for the third straight weekend. .. This is the third of 33 races on the season, and the 28th series race at the track. ... Harrison Burton and Chase Briscoe won here last season on a doubleheader weekend for the season in June. ... Ty Gibbs, the grandson of NASCAR Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Joe Gibbs, won his first race in his first career series start last week on the Daytona road course. ...*Austin Cindric (105) leads the standings, followed by Harrison Burton (81), Daniel Hemric (75), Brandon Brown (72), Myatt Snider (69), Jeb Burton (65), Jeremy Clements (54), *Gibbs (50), Justin Haley (50), Brandon Jones (48), Kyle Weatherman (46) and Joe Graf Jr. (43) making up the current 12 drivers who would make the seven-race playoffs.
*Denotes race winner and playoff berth. Standings per NASCAR.com.
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
THIS WEEK: The series takes a week off before heading to Las Vegas next week for the Silver State 200. ... Ben Rhodes followed up his win on the Daytona oval two weeks ago with a victory on the road course last week. ... *Rhodes leads the Truck standings (100), followed by John Hunter Nemechek (91), Sheldon Creed (87), Chandler Smith (70), Matt Crafton (63), Carson Hocevar (55), Canada's Raphael Lessard (54), Codie Rohrbaugh (50), Johnny Sauter (47) and Ryan Truex (45). Ten drivers will make the seven-race playoffs.
*Denotes race winner and playoff berth. Standings per NASCAR.com.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
THIS WEEK: The 2021 season starts April 18 in Birmingham, Ala., at Barber Motorsports Park. There are 17 races on the schedule.
FORMULA ONE
THIS WEEK: The 2021 season starts March 28 in Bahrain for the Bahrain Grand Prix on the Bahrain International Circuit. ... 23 events are on the 2021 schedule.
NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
THIS WEEK: The NHRA kicks off March 11-14 in Gainesville, Fla., for the Gatornationals, forgoing its typical mid-February start at Pomona, Calif,, for the Winternationals because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That event is now scheduled for April 9-11. ... The NHRA has 21 events on this year's schedule.
--By K. Lee Davis, Field Level Media
