Editor’s Note: This article on NASCAR race betting is posted in collaboration with an outside sponsorship client. The opinions and information contained within do not necessarily represent Frontstretch and its staff.
Followers of NASCAR are some of the most engaged fans out there.
One of the most popular sports in North America, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, more commonly known as NASCAR, started over 65 years ago in Daytona Beach, Florida. A favorite pastime for many, fans enjoy watching cars whirl around the track with up to 40 talented drivers competing for first place.
Since its early days, NASCAR has become one of the very top spectator sports in the United States, considering the number of viewers. In fact, it’s rivaling the fanbase that the NFL attracts each year.
This year’s NASCAR Cup Series “Great American Race,” the Daytona 500, had over 100,000 fans selling out the seats in a breeze. With this popularity in mind, it’s no surprise that fans flock to the best betting sites to select the driver they believe promises a win. NASCAR betting, like many other sports, adds excitement and thrill to an already exhilarating game.
However, beginners may not know that there’s a variety of ways to make a bet on any single race. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular bets you can make in NASCAR and some that you may not even know existed!
Outright Winner Betting
Likely the most popular NASCAR bet of all, an outright winner choice, as its name implies, is all about placing a bet on the driver who you believe will win the race.
A great selection for beginners, the obvious terms of outright winner betting are like bets found in other sports. If the driver’s chances are lower and your bet wins, the payout is larger; if your driver’s chances are better and you win, the payout is smaller. And you are not confined to betting on only one driver, as multiple bets can be placed on several racers.
Head-to-Head or Driver Matchup Betting
Head-to-Head or Driver Matchup Betting is a bet placed on one driver from a pair of drivers which are normally matched up by online sportsbooks.
For example, the betting site will choose several sets of racers and the bettor can confidently select which person they believe will cross the finish line before the other. These bets are great for people who follow specific drivers and know-how they usually compete. Its straightforwardness also makes it a great selection for someone who has recently entered the betting landscape.
Proposition Betting
Proposition Betting, commonly called “Prop” Betting, is a bet in NASCAR that has little to do with specific players and more to do with other race details such as how many cautions or lead changes there will be in a specific competition.
The bigger the race, the more prop bets there are. For example, in a major event like Daytona 500, there could be many prop bets available, even something as detailed as whether a major crash will occur during the race. Unfortunately, these type of multi-car wrecks have happened many times throughout NASCAR’s history.
Fastest Lap Betting
This bet, also quite self-explanatory, is a bet placed on the driver who completes the fastest single lap out of all other drivers in the entire race. For bettors knowledgeable about car manufacturing within the racing world and an eye for fast vehicles, it’s a fun bet to place. It’s simple yet comes with a good reward and a specific sense of pride if you win.
Rusty Wallace is known to hold the record for the fastest recorded lap by a NASCAR vehicle, driving 216.309 mph or 348.116 km/h on Talladega Superspeedway in the summer of 2004.
Podium Finisher Betting
Last but not least, podium finisher betting is choosing the first, second and third finishing positions in the race. For example, if you’re not sure about making an outright winner bet on a driver, you can opt for betting that the same driver finishes second or third. Most sportsbooks make this option available, allowing for betting and payouts if a driver will finish in one of the top three positions.
About the author
The Frontstretch Staff is made up of a group of talented men and women spread out all over the United States and Canada. Residing in 15 states throughout the country, plus Ontario, and widely ranging in age, the staff showcases a wide variety of diverse opinions that will keep you coming back for more week in and week out.
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