Heat is on: Hectic NASCAR tests drained drivers at Homestead

Some fans will be back. Some flags will be gone. And after an exhausting few days, NASCAR is about to offer ar daunting test at Homeste-Miami Speedway. Cup Series returns to track for third time in eight days Sunday at Homeste, which has previously hosted NASCAR only in vember when heat and humidity are less stifling than in June.

“This is kind of making history for most grueling few weeks on a driver that I think Cup level has ever seen,” said Br Keselowski, who clinched his 2012 NASCAR title at Homeste. “So, you kw, with respect to that, it’s same for everybody. ... I think it’s a great test of will. It’s a great test to drivers. I think it’s part of what makes se few weeks so compelling, t just as a participant in sport but as a fan myself.”

He was talking about three races in short order during an alrey-compressed schedule.

But really, Keselowski’s words could be applied to almost any NASCAR plot point right w.

re’s physical toll that left some drivers woozy when y

re’s also mental and emotional toll;

“re’s a lot of support in my corner from all aspects, from sports, from just rmal people, people that are wanting to stand up for what’s right,” Wallace said, when asked to describe a week he described as mentally taxing.

w, perhaps, a bit of rmalcy returns.

Fans — albeit a small number, just 1,000, almost entirely military members — will be back in stands Sunday, first time anyone has been on that side of fence for race day since pandemic era began.

“Yeah, it’s great to have people back,” driver Alex Bowman said. “It’s been really different. I don’t think you really tice how different it is until postrace. Getting out of cars to almost silence is just a really odd feeling. ... Hopefully, we put on a great show and people that are able to be re at that race are making some ise because that awkward silence has been a little weird.”

It’s 22nd time that NASCAR will run at Homeste, and first time that it’s happening in any month or than vember. Aver high temperatures in South Florida are about 8 degrees cooler around that time of year, and forecasters are saying Sunday will be like most days at this time of year at Homeste — temperatures near 90, humidity making it feel worse, with potential for thunderstorms.

on-track temperature will likely be even higher, and drivers are going to most definitely feel it inside ir cars.

And though championship is on line Sunday, re will be a distinct feeling of championship stalgia for seven-time NASCAR titlist Jimmie Johnson, who clinched all those trophies at Homeste.

Track officials at Homeste are renaming one of facility’s tremarks, tunnel at Turn 3 that les drivers into track, in Johnson’s hor. anuncement this week was me in part to commemorate what could be his final appearance re. Johnson's plan is for this season to be his last as a full-time driver.

“It’s such an incredible hor to have this tunnel renamed for me,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be weird t driving in re with that familiar pit in your stomach, as I have so many years in past as we were in contention for championships. So many incredible memories were me at this track. I will always remember how special this place is to me.”

Johnson will start ninth Sunday, with Denny Hamlin on pole followed by Joey Loga, Keselowski, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott. That’s significant, since six of last seven winners at Homeste started fifth or better.

exception re was Johnson, when he started 14th in 2016 and won to clinch his most recent title.