"Maybe in 2026 it’ll be back": Ryan Blaney hopeful of Homestead's return in the NASCAR playoffs after 2025 miss

Defending NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney recently shared his thoughts on Homestead not being part of playoffs next season. The racetrack which hosted the championship race for many years is all set to lose its playoff spot as well in favor of Talladega as the third-last race of the season in 2025.

Instead, Homestead would move up to March all the way from its current place in October.

This was something Ryan Blaney recently touched on as he addressed a question from the media ahead of this Sunday's Cup race. Blaney was asked whether he agrees with the notion that the best drivers in the season tend to run up front in the last few races on the calendar, considering Homestead won't be a part of playoffs too in 2025.

"I think the last four races of the year really kind of the best teams rise up, you have kind of a little bit more traditional racetrack, especially this round and then Phoenix and then you get the best of the best which is how it should be. I wish this place was in the playoffs next year. Its unfortunate that it’s not because I think it puts on a great show and it’s a pretty tough track to run well at," Blaney said (via Frontstretch). [2:10]

The #12 driver mentioned that in the last few races of the season, such as the upcoming one at Homestead, drivers push hard and can make little mistakes which can ruin their playoffs. But to Ryan Blaney, that is something which makes it worth it, and 'neat to be a part of.'

Further, Blaney expressed optimism that Homestead will be back in the playoffs in 2026. He said:

"Maybe in 2026 it’ll be back but these last handful of races are really good and I think if you get here then you really have to step up and your team does too and it shows who are the top guys that deserve to run for it."

Ryan Blaney isn't worried about pointing his way in to the Final 4 lineup for Phoenix

Heading into Homestead, the second race of the Round of 8, after which there will only be Martinsville, Ryan Blaney finds himself in a tricky position. The defending Cup champion is seventh on the playoffs table while his Penske teammate is already preparing for Phoenix after his win at Las Vegas.

His strategy and approach for Homestead and Martinsville was something he opened up on recently as he claimed (via Frontstretch):

"It's a scenario where I'm pretty out of it on points, I'm not going to make up 40 something points, you're not going to get that lucky to where the guys are going to have big blowups the next two weeks. We've kind of approached this round like a must-win."

Blaney added that his mindset doesn't change, and he's not worrying about points anymore. He emphasized that he has come to Homestead to win and it is his understanding that in order to make it to Phoenix, he'd have to win one of the two remaining races in the playoffs.