There have been no repeat winners at Homestead in the last nine events at the facility! It's the only modern racetrack Ryan Heuser has failed to find victory lane, hoping to rectify his "Florida woes" by chasing down Johnny Reed Foley for his second-straight and fifth Extravaganza Series Championship! Zach Michael comes in 75 points back in search of his first crown, with teammates to both drivers in Zakk Miller and Craig Lee ready to pounce! It's Quick-Silver Motorsports and Team Danger Zone against Johnny Reed Foley for the title. Good luck to all!
It's Bill Werkheiser's Final Ride! He joined the Extravaganza Series in 2001, driving Buddy Griswald's #99 STP Ford in his final season as a car owner. His efforts were bought out by W.A.S.P. Motorsports the following season, teaming up with Scott Jackson in the #6 Kraft foods Taurus. He, Scott, Rick Jackson and Randy Dobbins would powerhouse their way to four Championships, with Werkheiser finishing top-10 in points in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2015. "I took my model plane out at Bristol." says Bill about a weekend during his rookie campaign. "Buddy comes out and says "Hey Billy, what are ya doin'". I said "I'm flying my airplane". He says "You want some good gas for that?". I was like "Yea!". Buddy goes back to his motor home; he mixes it up with the oil and stuff. He says "Don't tell your momma and daddy about this." He has this jug of clear liquid. "Whatever you do don't drink it!" He cranks it up; there's a blue flame comin' out "Holy what is this??!" He throws it up; it flies wayyy over the fourth turn wall. I'm there lookin' at it and he says "Sorry 'bout your luck kid.""
Molemar Diggs clinches the Rookie of the Year! The campaign proved tough, showing signs of greatness before a humbling summer-stretch sent the team in a cavalcade of trial and strife. Two fourth-place efforts at Atlanta and Richmond set the tone, with Jeremy Hebel finishing more races to keep up with the torrid pace of the #41 Pittsburgh Steelers Chevrolet. In the end, the second Wizards of Speed entry got the job done! Hebel, Steve Inkman, Rod Weston and Tony Gunk also fought valiantly, showing flashes of brilliance throughout the 2024 campaign.
What a year! Seven victories more than doubles his previous season-high. 1,459 laps led makes Buddy Rakestraw look like Syd Quackenbush, but that's okay! They are both legends in their own right. Foley's "legendary" status depends on his Pennzoil 400 result! A 12th-place finish or better will nab the #3 AC-Delco CFM Motorsports Chevrolet the title! The year started with a 13th-place in the Daytona 500 followed by two-straight top-3's. A victory at Atlanta set the tone, climbing up the ladder to catch Ken Pettit, Zakk Miller and Alex Crapser atop the standings. Wins at Kansas and Gateway propelled Foley to second in points, passing Pettit for the points lead after Sonoma in June. The #8 Bob Marley Chevrolet took it back at Chicagoland, only for Foley to sweep victories in the northeast stretch at New Hampshire and Pocono. Foley was in the midst of a 15-race lap-led streak starting from the Coca-Cola 600 to the Eddie Money Classic. Those bonus points narrowly edged Pettit's consistency to win the regular season Championship! His victory at the Southern 500 sparked the remainder of his campaign, leading a whopping 718 laps in nine chase races. Four of them saw him up front for 100+ (Darlington, Las Vegas, Martinsville and Phoenix), with a seventh victory at Atlanta; sweeping both events at the facility. A narrow loss to Ryan Heuser in Arizona keeps the #138 just 58 points behind. The #3 AC-Delco Chevrolet starts mid-pack in 23rd for the Pennzoil 400. Look for Foley to climb directly to the front!
