The best NASCAR betting sites, how to bet on the NASCAR Cup Series, plus favorites and longshots for the 2022 Championship.
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The months of July and August get a bad rap in U.S. sports.
Sure, things are quiet on the field/court/ice in three of the “big four” sports. But there’s plenty of news around those sports, plus it’s an opportunity to discover some other great competitions. Just last week, Wimbledon wrapped up, the Open Championship teed off, and the Women’s Euro 2022 tournament continued toward the knockout rounds.
Back here in the states, the NASCAR season is headed down the homestretch towards the playoffs. Contenders and pretenders are separating as the 16-driver field for the 10-race playoff season begins to clarify.
For sports bettors, these tickets cash the same as any other sport – so let’s look at some of the best wagering options available to NASCAR bettors. And the best NASCAR betting sites for you to try!
Where Can I Bet? Best NASCAR Betting Sites
Just about every online sportsbook offers wagering on NASCAR.
DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars and others offer plenty of popular bets on each week’s race. NASCAR races are typically held on Sunday afternoon, with occasional primetime events mixed in on Saturday or Sunday evenings.
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NASCAR is more popular than many think, which is why the online sportsbooks have made the effort to include regular and up-to-date betting markets for the sport. If you fancy wagering on NASCAR, you certainly won’t be short of options.
Next up, let’s dive into he most common wagers placed on NASCAR betting.
What Can I Bet on in NASCAR? NASCAR Betting Markets
Race Winner
Doesn’t get much simpler than this. Pick the winning driver out of a 43-car field. Top drivers usually find their odds between +500 and +1000 (the top 7-8 contenders). Then, the middle of the pack settles in the +1500 to +3000 range.
Longshots, which can be as much as one-third of the field, have odds of +10000 or higher to win the race outright. Remember, there’s no prize for getting close – winning is the only thing.
Top 3
Here’s where to look if you want some credit for being close. At some books, it’s a Top 5 bet, but Top 3 is more common, and it’s exactly what it looks like. If your driver finishes in the Top 3, you’re a winner. Two important points to consider:
- No rewards for finishing first or second with this bet. If you bet “top 3” with your favorite driver, it doesn’t matter whether he finishes first, second, or third – you’ll be a winner. Your odds don’t increase or decrease depending on his exact spot.
- Reduced Odds. This one is a little more obvious, but with three chances to be a winner instead of just one, your payout won’t be as generous. A driver with +1000 odds of winning the race might see odds in the +250 or +300 range for a Top 3 finish.
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Top 10
Same idea, but if you want to bet a top driver, now you’re looking at some pretty heavy juice. The driver considered likeliest to win the race can be as high as -500 to finish in the top 10 – a fairly risky proposition in a sport where one mistake can end your day.
This is where to find value on your favorite longshot, as some drivers’ odds for a Top 10 finish can be +3000 or even higher. All of the best NASCAR betting sites will have this market available.
Driver Props
Got a favorite driver? Or maybe someone you think is bound to struggle this week? DraftKings offers head-to-head matchups – typically about 20 per week – between select drivers.
Unfortunately, you can’t “create your own” matchup – you have to choose from those offered – but maybe it’s an idea for the future. DraftKings tries to pair evenly matched drivers, so odds rarely venture behind -150 in head-to-head.
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Other Choices
The more seasoned NASCAR fans may enjoy betting on the winning manufacturer. Who will win today, a Chevrolet, a Ford, or a Toyota?
You can also wager on the winning team. Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendricks Motorsports, Team Penske, and Richard Childress Racing all contain top NASCAR superstars, who compete for team points throughout the season as well as individual glory.
Top Contenders for the 2022 NASCAR Championship
The NASCAR playoffs start Labor Day weekend. It’s a 10-race ‘tournament’ with 16 drivers qualifying to contend for the title. However, a full field of 43 drivers starts each race, as they continue to compete for team and sponsorship points.
If you win a race during the season, attempt to qualify for all regular-season races, and finish in the top 30 for points, you’re in the playoffs! If there are fewer than 16 unique race winners, the remaining spots are filled based on regular-season points.
Divided into three ‘rounds’ of three races each, the playoff system eliminates four drivers after each round. This leaves only four drivers in title contention when the Series reaches the season’s final race on November 6 in Phoenix. On this day, the four drivers race head-to-head (among a full field) where the first to cross the finish line is crowned 2022 NASCAR champion.
Points are accumulated based on a driver’s finish in each race, with bonuses for victories and winning ‘stages’ of each race.
2022 NASCAR Championship Picks
Some of the top choices to win the 2022 NASCAR title (all odds from FanDuel):
Chase Elliott (+470): With three wins this year and three starts from pole position, the 26-year-old son of former NASCAR champion Bill Elliott figures to be a top choice in most remaining races and secure one of the top spots for the playoff race. Elliott is in search of his first title.
Kyle Larson (+500): Last year’s champ will be hot on Elliott’s heels all the way. Larson hasn’t reached Victory Lane since late February, but eight top-five finishes in that period suggest it’s only a matter of time.
Denny Hamlin (+750): A popular choice among fans, Hamlin’s been at it since 2005 without a title to his name. He tends to be an all-or-nothing choice, with two wins already this season – but only four total Top-10 finishes.
A few interesting longshots to keep an eye on:
Kyle Busch (+1000): Not sure whether this two-time champion can really be considered a longshot, but a 10:1 ticket on a proven winner with a strong playoff track record is a hard deal to pass up.
Chase Briscoe (+1900): Currently in 13th place with only two top-10 finishes since April, Briscoe is on this list for one main reason: if he gets hot in the playoffs, the final race is in Phoenix, where Briscoe earned his lone win of 2022 back in March.
Daniel Suarez (+2500): He got his win at Sonoma in late June and can now focus on accumulating points the rest of the season. He’s off to a good start, with a 5th-place and 6th-place finish the past two weeks. He’s also the teammate of top contender Ross Chastain (odds of +650). So the duo can work together in tight races throughout the season and playoffs.
The NASCAR playoff system is unique, controversial, and best of all wide open. For novice fans or unfamiliar sports bettors, our advice is to check out a race during the ‘quiet months’ of July and August with a fun wager to make it interesting. You might find yourself hooked throughout the playoffs!
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