Turning into Homestead-Miami Speedway Monitor President in July of this yr, Guillermo Santa Cruz will oversee his first NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck weekend when Homestead hosts the midpoint of the Spherical of 8. However many — Santa Cruz included — would like to see the observe return to its outdated place as NASCAR’s season finale.
Talking in an unique interview with Motorsport.com, Santa Cruz expressed respect for NASCAR’s scheduling choices, however nonetheless spoke on a need to return the observe to its former function.
“We’d like to have the championship again,” Santa Cruz advised Motorsport.com. “We make no bones about it. I am very open about it and it takes loads to carry a championship to any metropolis. The truth that it was right here for 18 years was clearly a plus as a result of now we have that custom. We now have the unimaginable climate that we sometimes have this time of yr. We now have the Florida Keys [a] 20 minute drive away. There’s loads to supply right here — not just for the drivers, however for the spectators and everyone who loves motorsports.
“Ideally in an ideal world, at some point the championship will come again. And I will inform you, I would not be doing my job if I wasn’t engaged on that and wasn’t attempting to make that occur. Sure, we wish the championship to return again. That is not a secret,” says Santa Cruz.
The final champion to be topped at Homestead-Miami Speedway: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry in 2019
Photograph by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Guillermo is new to the NASCAR world, however he brings with him a formidable resume within the sports activities media world. He is labored in sports activities media for greater than three years and has produced two FIFA World Cups on Univision, in addition to the Olympics after shifting to Telemundo. The majority of his profession was spent at IMG — a world sports activities and tradition firm firm — spending 11 years there, the place he even did some consulting for NASCAR. Motorsport.com was curious to study why he selected to make this profession change lower than 4 months in the past.
“I believe one of many precept the reason why I took it’s as a result of I consider Homestead is absolutely the way forward for south Florida,” defined Santa Cruz, a Miami native. “There’s a lot taking place right here. There’s a lot happening. The time was proper to make a change. I’ve had an extended profession in sports activities and this was a brand new problem. The path NASCAR goes was one other interesting issue about it.
“Greater than something: One, the problem and two, I knew it could be enjoyable. And enjoyable it has been.”
Whereas he admits he’s nonetheless studying the ropes of the inventory automotive racing world, he’s nicely conscious of the truth that this can be a observe beloved by drivers and followers. It is typically celebrated as among the best for passing on the whole schedule, and that is an enormous argument for why individuals need to see it take its place again because the finale, which has been held at Phoenix Raceway since 2020.
“From a advertising and product perspective, that took care of a number of questions,” stated Santa Cruz when requested in regards to the observe’s recognition. “The drivers prefer it and which means the product is nice, the racing is nice, so we do not have to fret about that,” stated Santa Cruz. “And to be truthful to NASCAR and to me, that would not be my experience. I would not know how you can repair the observe if that was a difficulty — if the competitors wasn’t good. However the competitors is nice. The drivers adore it. So in that regard, we’re nice.”
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing, Freeway.com Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: Jared East / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Regardless of dropping its place because the finale, Homestead nonetheless performs a pivotal function in deciding the 2024 champion. As considered one of three races within the Spherical of 8, a win on the 1.5-mile speedway means an computerized entry for any of the eight remaining title combatants.
“Homestead is great check of talent and talent and technique,” he stated of its present function within the playoffs. “It has carried out that all through its historical past and we will anticipate that right here on Sunday. Solely three spots are left so for those who’re gonna make it transfer, you gotta make it now.”
One other schedule transfer
Sadly, the Homestead date will transfer but once more in 2025. The observe will probably be out of the playoffs utterly, moved to an early season date much like its placement because the third spherical of 2021.
When requested about discussions concerning the race’s future and the opportunity of shifting it again into the playoffs in any manner for 2026 or past, Santa Cruz offered a diplomatic reply.
“Had been excited to have a race any time and we’re able to go a second’s discover,” he advised Motorsport.com. “We take a number of pleasure in that right here. This observe is all the time able to go.”
He went on the reward the spring date whereas additionally trying in the direction of the longer term, saying: “March is a superb date … we welcome that and we’re blissful to race in March. So far as the longer term after that, whether or not it is one other playoff race or one thing else, we’re open to that.
“There’s a number of decision-making that goes into these issues. The climate has loads to do with it, not solely right here, however in different elements of the nation so it is a bit of little bit of a chess transfer with the way you do the schedule. We’ll be able to go every time they [NASCAR] need us to race. We’re good, however sure, we might like to have the championship again.”
Learn Additionally:
