Joey Logano Breaks Down Kyle Larson’s Homestead Dominance—And What’s Changed Over the Years
“It seems to be how I’ve figured out how to go fast here,” Kyle Larson once said in 2023 when asked about his mastery of Homestead-Miami Speedway. Running the high line near the wall isn’t for everyone—but Larson has perfected it. His 2022 Homestead victory was a masterclass, leading 199 laps en route to his first win at the track. But what gives him the edge where others struggle?
Enter 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano, who has his own theory on why Larson thrives at Homestead.
Logano Knows Homestead—But His Recent Record Tells a Different Story
Joey Logano isn’t a stranger to success at Homestead. Driving the Team Penske No. 22, he notched five straight top-six finishes between 2015 and 2019, including his 2018 victory that sealed his first Cup Series Championship. However, since 2020, Logano has just one top-15 finish at the track—a stark contrast to his previous dominance.
So, what’s changed?
Logano Praises Larson’s Skill on the Wall
Ahead of this weekend’s race at Phoenix Raceway, Logano spoke about the challenge of running near the wall at tracks like Homestead and Darlington. His response? Pure admiration for Larson’s ability.
“You should ask Kyle Larson. He’s really, really, really good at it,” Logano admitted. “Reddick’s got really good at it, Blaney’s decent at it, too. It’s not comfortable. You’re on the ragged edge, and you’re literally an inch off the wall.”
He’s right—Larson makes it look effortless. Just last year at Darlington, he started deep in the field at 18th but charged through the pack in his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, finishing strong.
But according to Logano, it’s not just talent—it’s the car.
The Next Gen Car Changed Everything
Logano pointed out that the Next Gen car’s design updates have played a massive role in allowing drivers like Larson to dominate the high line. NASCAR’s 2023 tweaks—which included cutting bars, thinning tubing, and adjusting crush zones—gave drivers more room for error.
“You can make a mistake now, as long as it’s small enough. You can just kind of smush it up against the wall every now and then. Life’s okay, as long as you don’t hit it that hard,” Logano explained.
And the stats back it up. Kyle Larson has led 296 laps in just three Next Gen-era races at Homestead. Earlier this season at Darlington 2024, he led a staggering 263 laps, won both stages, and still finished fourth. But Larson isn’t the only one thriving.
Tyler Reddick—Another Master of the High Line
Tyler Reddick has also proven to be a force at Homestead. Last October, he secured his spot in the Championship Four with a daring last-lap double overtake on Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney. His key to success? The same high line mastery that Larson has perfected.
“I just knew I needed to get even with him on his right side door, and he raced me clean, and I appreciate it,” Reddick said post-race. “I’m just really, really excited to have a shot at the championship.”
His confidence in Homestead’s high line isn’t new. Back in 2023, Reddick told NASCAR.com, “I could kind of run the fence, but certainly when I was a rookie in the Xfinity Series… I just got to go up there and wear the wall out and get a good read on what it can handle and what it can’t.”
With Larson and Reddick leading the way at these types of tracks, the conversation always shifts to who can challenge them. But for Logano, his focus has already moved to Phoenix Raceway—where his own history is legendary.
Joey Logano Heads to Phoenix Focused on the Present
On March 9, 2025, Joey Logano returns to Phoenix Raceway for the NASCAR Cup Series’ fourth race of the season. His record here? Impressive. Three wins, including the 2022 championship, and 15 top-10s in 31 starts since 2009.
Logano’s Phoenix dominance was on full display last year. In the 2024 season finale, he battled back from adversity—hitting the wall, getting stuck in neutral, and dropping to fifth. But after a strategic pit stop and a late caution on lap 311, he stayed out while others pitted, holding off Ryan Blaney to secure Team Penske’s third straight championship.
But despite his success, Logano isn’t dwelling on the past.
“It’s in the past. You’ve got to keep moving forward,” he said ahead of this week’s race.
Starting on the front row next to pole-sitter William Byron, Logano faces new challenges, including Goodyear’s option tires—six primary sets and two faster-wearing alternates. Teams are hoping these changes shake up the pack racing that has defined Phoenix in recent years.
Daniel Suárez of Trackhouse Racing believes these tire options will open up more strategy. “It just creates more opportunities and more tools to do different things,” he said.
With Ryan Blaney aiming to extend his top-10 streak at Phoenix to 10 races and Christopher Bell hunting a historic third consecutive Next Gen win, Logano knows the competition is fierce. But one thing’s for sure—he’s not backing down.
Who do you think will take the checkered flag at Phoenix this year?
