Defending champion Ryan Blaney laments the “unfortunate” exclusion of Homestead from 2025 playoffs

Team Penske Racing driver Ryan Blaney has pointed out how unfortunate it is for Homestead Miami to lose its playoff slot.

Defending champion Ryan Blaney laments the “unfortunate” exclusion of Homestead from 2025 playoffs

Ryan Blaney (Images via IMAGO/ USA Today Network)

The 2025 NASCAR Cup schedule will see some massive changes and the most prominent one of them is Homestead Miami losing its playoff race. It’s a massive disappointment many in racing community, as the track was once the championship finale venue and often produced some of the best races of the season.

This Sunday’s R-8 playoff race would be the final playoff event scheduled at the track and the drivers has a mixed feeling towards it. Many were disappointed to learn the news as they were actually campaigning for Homestead becoming the finale venue, before the ultimate decision to exclude the race was made. Defending champion Ryan Blaney has given his opinion on the decision.

He admitted that it’s unfortunate that the Homestead no longer in the post-season as it’s a place he wished to race in in the playoffs. Ryan Blaney went on to highlight how tough the races are at Homestead and shared his hopes that the race will return to schedule in the 2026 NASCAR Cup season.

I wish this place was in the playoffs next year. It’s unfortunate it’s not because I think it puts on a great show.  And it’s a pretty, it’s a tough track to run well at, you know, and you have people that, you know, push a little hard, make mistakes that can ruin your playoffs.  And like, that’s, that’s neat to watch and that’s neat to be a part of. So yeah, maybe in 26, it’ll, it’ll be back.

Ryan Blaney told Frontstretch.

Ryan Blaney asserts the best drivers are performing well in the last-4 races

Earlier talking about the playoffs, Blaney pointed out that the best teams in the garage have taken the charge and are consistently leading the races. He highlighted that having the post-season races in the traditional track is the reason behind the results.

Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney
Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney (Via IMAGO)

I mean the last 4 races of the year… the best teams kind of rise up. You kind of have a little bit more traditional racetracks, especially this round and then Phoenix, and you kind of get the best of the best, which is how it should be.

Ryan Blaney said.

The Team Penske Racing driver has found himself in a must win situation in the playoff and now has to prove himself in the coming two events against the tough challenges. It will be interesting to see how he will perform in the remaining traditional tracks.