Penske dominates Homestead NASCAR Cup test with Cindric, Logano

The test offered drivers a rare chance to run their Next Gen machinery and gather data at the 1.5-mile speedway, which hosts a Round of 8 race – the Dixie Vodka 400 – on October 23.

Penske’s rookie Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric topped the field on Tuesday in his Ford Mustang at 165.548mph, ahead of teammate Joey Logano and the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry of Denny Hamlin.

Logano stayed on track in Miami on Wednesday and improved his fastest lap to 167.126mph before rain curtailed the running towards the end of the day.

His former teammate Brad Keselowski, now co-owner/driver of RFK Racing, was second fastest on Wednesday at 167.033mph, ahead of Kyle Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro.

Homestead returns to the post-season roster for the first time since 2019, when it served as the season finale each year since 2002.

Former series champion Chase Elliott said: “It’s obviously different not being the last race, but there’s still a large amount of significance on the event, just like really all of the last 10 are.

“If you make it to the final one, that one’s a bit different. But the rest of them, you’re always trying to win, always trying to bank as many points as you can and you’re gonna do your part to get through the round.”

Tuesday’s test also marked the Petty GMS debut of Noah Gragson in its Chevy, who will race for the team in the Cup Series full-time next season. He was one of many drivers to graze the wall using the high line of the speedway…

Wheel-force cars from each of NASCAR’s three manufacturers joined the action Wednesday and will continue to run on Thursday, allowing them to gather extra information.

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