NASCAR Betting Online Your Ultimate Guide
Add some excitement to race day with NASCAR betting online. Whether you’re a casual fan who wants to bet on your favorite driver, or a hardcore enthusiast ready to dive in to advanced markets, you’ve come to the right place.
This guide has everything you need to know about how to bet on NASCAR races. Get useful betting tips for both beginners and experts, and check out our live betting strategies to help you make the most of your auto racing bets.
Types Of NASCAR Bets
There are many different ways to bet on NASCAR online. Understanding each type of bet, and learning how to read betting odds, will help you pick wagers that fit your betting strategy and align with predictions on race day.
Moneyline
Moneyline betting in NASCAR is a direct wager on the outcome of a race. In this type of bet, odds are assigned to each driver based on their expected likelihood to win the race.
Moneyline Example:
As a three-time Daytona 500 winner in 2016, 2019, and 2020, Danny Hamlin was listed as one of the favorites to win the 2024 Daytona 500 at +1200. This win would mean that if you bet $100, you would win $1,200. Ryan Preece, who has never won a NASCAR race heading into the 2024 season, has much longer odds at +4000 (bet $100 to win $4,000) to win the Daytona 500.
Expert Tip:
Look for value on the moneyline with drivers that have performed well in recent years on the track of the upcoming race.
Props
Props betting in NASCAR focuses on specific events, or occurrences, within a race that may not directly affect the final outcome. These can include driver-centric or race-related factors.
Prop Example:
A potential head-to-head prop bet could pit Joey Logano (-200) against Kyle Busch (+150). A bet on Logano at -200 (bet $200 to win $100) would pay out if Logano finished the race ahead of Busch. A bet on Busch at +150 (bet $100 to win $150) would cash if Busch finished in a better position than Logano. Betting on whether or not there will be a crash in the first 10 laps or what the primary color of the winning car will be are other examples of props.
Expert Tip:
Consider prop bets on top-3, top-5, and top-10 finishes as less risky alternatives to betting on drivers to win on the moneyline.
Parlays
Parlay betting in NASCAR involves combining multiple individual bets into a single wager, creating higher potential payouts. Each component of the parlay must be correct for the overall bet to win.
Parlay Example:
A simple parlay example would be combining the winner of three different heads-up races into one parlay.
Note: Bettors are not allowed to parlay connected events together, such as Chris Buescher to win the race and to finish in the top three.
Expert Tip:
As parlays are higher-stakes bets, we recommend that you generally avoid them in your NASCAR betting strategy, or try them sparingly for entertainment purposes.
Futures
Future bets in NASCAR are wagers on the outcomes of long-term events taking place beyond the upcoming weekend’s race.
Future Example:
Before the start of the 2024 season, BetUS listed Ryan Blaney (+430), Kyle Larson (+575), and William Byron (+575) as the top favorites to win the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. This future bet can be placed months before the championship race happens in November.
Expert Tip:
NASCAR future odds are updated throughout the season, but are locked in for you at the price you bet them at. We recommend checking future odds regularly to look for strong odds on your favorite drivers.
Live Betting
Live betting in NASCAR allows you to place wagers in real time as the race unfolds. Odds are continuously updated based on the live event.
Live Betting Example:
As the race is happening, odds on drivers to win, or finish in the top five or top 10, are constantly being adjusted, depending on how things are going on the track.
Expert Tip:
Keep the live betting page of your favorite NASCAR sportsbook up on your computer or mobile device while you watch the race, so you can keep an eye out for good betting opportunities.
Guide To NASCAR Live Betting
Betting on NASCAR online always starts with pre-race selections, including moneyline bets on specific drivers to win, and prop bets on independent events occurring on race day. NASCAR live betting takes your experience to the next level. You can turn your observations, while watching the race, into new opportunities to make a profit. Here are our top tips to successful NASCAR live betting:
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We recommend that you have a strong understanding of how betting odds work, before engaging in live betting. NASCAR betting odds adjust in real time, depending on how the race is going, so it’s important to watch the odds.
Example: You may bet on a driver’s odds at +250, only to see them adjust to +225 seconds later as he extends his lead. Knowing how to read moneyline odds in “+” and “-” or other formats, like fractional or decimal odds, will help you calculate value in real time and avoid placing bets on odds with worse value.
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It’s important to compare the offers from top NASCAR betting sites on race day. You’ll want to find which sportsbook offers the best odds on the types of live bets you like to make. We recommend always keeping the price in mind. If you believe a driver has a 50% chance of winning the race, he would be a profitable live bet at +120 and an unprofitable one at -120 in the long run. It’s best to only lock in bets when the price is right.
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The live betting edge that experienced NASCAR fans have comes from watching the race. We recommend that you actively watch the event as it unfolds to observe how each driver is performing. Keep your eyes open for race dynamics, like crashes that could affect the remainder of the race. These live insights can help you to bet profitably.
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A hedge is when you bet both sides of the same prop to lock in a profit or minimize a loss. We recommend using this technique sparingly when live betting. While hedging does help to minimize risk, it also dilutes potential profit — and it guarantees that you will pay juice every time as one of the sides will lose. By managing your bankroll and not placing bets that are too large, you shouldn’t feel the need to hedge on a regular basis.
Best NASCAR Betting Site For Beginners
Choosing the best NASCAR betting site is easy with the expert reviews from The Sports Geek team. Our top overall choice for NASCAR betting online is BetUS.
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Is NASCAR Betting Different From F1 Betting?
F1 betting fans making the transition to NASCAR should take note of how different these two sports are. Understanding the distinctions between F1 and NASCAR racing will help you adjust your betting strategies to suit each race.
What Are The Biggest Differences Between The NASCAR And F1 Racing?
Race Format: NASCAR races take place on oval tracks, while F1 races have a mix of circuit types that include street circuits and road courses.
Car Specifications: NASCAR vehicles are heavier and built for close-contact racing, compared to their F1 counterparts, which are lighter and more aerodynamic.
Global Presence: F1 is a global championship that spans multiple continents. NASCAR has a more regional focus with all its races taking place in the United States.
Pit Stop Strategy: Pit stops for fuel and tire changes are more common in NASCAR since F1 races are shorter and they put a higher emphasis on tire management.
Is The NASCAR Field Of Drivers Bigger Than F1?
Yes. The typical field of NASCAR drivers is around 40 drivers, which is double the standard field of 20 F1 drivers per race.
Do Any NASCAR Drivers Drive In F1?
No. There have been a few rare instances of drivers who have enjoyed success in both NASCAR and F1 during their careers, including Mario Andretti and Juan Pablo Montoya. This is very uncommon due to the major differences in car characteristics and race formats.
2023 NASCAR Season Recap
The 2023 NASCAR season was thrilling from start to finish. Kevin Harvick made the playoffs in his final season and Ryan Blaney won his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Here are some interesting facts from last year’s action:
Recent NASCAR Cup Champions
Below is a list of the 10 most recent NASCAR Cup Champions.
Tip: Bettors looking for NASCAR betting trends could note that three of the last four champions are first-time winners, and six of the last eight winners have raced for Team Penske or Hendrick Motorsports. Could William Byron breakthrough in 2024 as a potential first-year winner on the Hendrick Motorsports team?
| Year | Cup Champion | Team | Number of Titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | 1st |
| 2022 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | 2nd |
| 2021 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | 1st |
| 2020 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | 1st |
| 2019 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | 2nd |
| 2018 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | 1st |
| 2017 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | 1st |
| 2016 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | 7th |
| 2015 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | 1st |
| 2014 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | 1st |
Responsible Gambling
We encourage you to gamble responsibly and consider online betting as a form of entertainment, not a source of income. Set loss limits and time limits, and don’t bet more than you’re comfortable losing.
Here are some resources to help you, or someone you care about, gamble responsibly and get help:
NASCAR Betting Key Takeaways
Betting on NASCAR online is thrilling when you understand the betting types, the advantages of live betting, and the betting strategies involved. There are lots of different bets to place, from futures and moneylines to props and parlays. Our betting examples will help you understand the odds. Pair your understanding of the types of bets with knowledge of the difference between NASCAR and F1 racing, and you’ll be all set. We recommend taking advantage of sportsbooks welcome offers, like BetUS, to make the most of your bankroll. BetUS’ selection of NASCAR betting lines and helpful tips is a great place to start. Good luck! We’re rooting for you!
