NASCAR is an extremely popular sport and has a legion of dedicated followers who tune into every single lap. It is an exciting and fast-paced sport which has grown in popularity over the past decade and continues to attract interest worldwide.
It stands of National Association for Stock Car Racing and is a hugely popular televised sport. There are plenty of races taking place throughout the season and it offers multiple wagering opportunities for bettors. Bookmakers will often price up the race markets seven days in advance and the prices will change throughout the week, with qualifying and practicing having a big say on the final odds. We take a look at how to bet intelligently on baseball and our advice and tips will hopefully help you make wiser decisions before placing a wager:
Types of NASCAR Bet
Race Winner
The hardest market to predict but arguably the most rewarding. It’s a fairly straightforward way of wagering and simply requires bettors to correctly predict the driver who will be victorious. The NASCAR season is split into two and the races are far more open during the early half of the campaign as the drivers compete for a place in the post-season.
The drivers will simply be listed by the online bookmaker with a market favourite often determined by factors such as qualifying, recent form and performance history at this track.
Odds are often displayed in the money line format.
It is a difficult market to crack but it is hugely rewarding and many bettors may only have to select two of three correct winners throughout the season to make a small profit [depending on the stakes]
Place Markets
As well as predicting which driver will win the race, it is also possible to predict who will finish in the top three positions. It will pay out at 1/5 of the odds although all online bookmakers will have their own, unique terms.
Place markets are a great way of getting involved in bigger-price drivers who have a decent chance of springing a surprise.
Head to Head Markets
A market that has become increasingly popular is the head to head market. This is a fun way of following all of the NASCAR action without having to predict the winner of the race.
Bookmakers will price up a number of head to head market which pitch two drivers against one another. All you need to do is predict which of the pair will finish in the highest position. For example: Driver A vs Driver B
If you have a bet on Driver A to finish ahead of Driver B and he had a disappointing drive, finishing 10th, you may still have won your bet. If Driver B has finished 11th or below, your wager will be a winning one.
The drivers are normally paired together based on their proximity in the betting market but this doesn’t mean that they will finish next to one another in the final standings.
This is a great way of having a wager without worrying about the race winner.
Prop Betting
Prop betting can vary greatly on NASCAR but one of the most popular Prop bets is Over/Under on a driver’s finishing position.
For example – Driver C – Over/Under 11.5
If you wager on Over 11.5 and your selected driver finishes in tenth position, your wager will be a winning one. If they finish twelfth, unfortunately you’ve lost. Positions 1-11 would be winning ones.
Again, this is perfect for reflecting on individual driver performance and helps take the remainder of the field out of the equation.
How to Improve Your Chances of Winning on NASCAR
Focus on Tracks
The phrase ‘horses for courses’ springs to mind when betting on NASCAR. The majority of tracks have their own unique features and idiosyncrasies and this will greatly affect the outcome of the race.
Some drivers will regularly drive well at particular tracks and with seasoned competitors regularly returning to NASCAR, it’s always advised to check a drivers past history at the track. Some drivers will have happy memories of a particular whilst certain cars will profit from narrow/wide corners.
Always check their past history at the track but it’s also worth taking note of their performances in practices as well. Don’t place a wager until you’ve seen the latest times from practice/qualifying earlier in the week.
Some tracks [Martinsville, Bristol Motor Speedway] are notorious for their tight corners and those single-groove tracks make overtaking incredibly difficult and it’s advised to look favourably on any driver who qualifies well and is able to start at the front as the drivers behind will find it difficult to get past the leaders. This isn’t the case with all tracks however.
Drivers who have finished down the pecking order in every single race leading up to a particular event can often rip up the formbook and finish well at their favourite track. This is always something to be wary of.
Focus on Alternative Markets
Savvy NASCAR bettors will explore their different options before placing any wagers. It is simple and easy to bet on the race winner market but it is far more profitable to bet on alternative markets such as Head to Head and Over/Under.
The Head to Head market is particularly useful as you don’t need to pick a race winner and you can use each driver’s previous performance at a track as a barometer.
Online bookmakers are cottoning on to the increasing popularity of NASCAR and they are always creating new markers so it’s always advised to look out for alternative ways of getting involved. Don’t just stick to the obvious options.
Be Patient
NASCAR markets will be priced up around 5-7 days prior to the race. Some bettors will seek early value and place their wagers early before the market reacts but it’s advised to be patient and wait for the practices and qualifying to take place.
This will give you a great indication of how the car is performing and a driver who excels during practice is also likely to put in a confident performance when it comes to the race itself.
Qualifying will also help shape the starting position of each and every driver and this is vitally important. The aforementioned tight tracks will help those who are positioned in front whilst wider courses will assist top drivers who are further down the grid. If you wager pre-qualifying, it can be risky and your driver may suffer a disappointing drive thus reducing their chances of success.
Don’t rush into your bets. Big name drivers will always attract the weight of money and the market is likely to move several times pre-race but don’t let this affect your judgement or force you into rushing your NASCAR wagers.
Do Your Research
If you are having a wager on the weekend’s race, it is always advised to watch the final practice and pay attention to the driver and car performance. That will be the team’s last chance to perform admirably and their final opportunity to get used to the track’s turns.
Also, interviews will be provided by media companies which usually feature both the driver and team manager reflecting on performances earlier in the week. Whilst many of the participants are likely to remain coy, it is often possible to read between the lines and garner vital information about the confidence in the camp.
Very small details can help shape your wagers and they can make the difference between a winning bet and an unlucky loser.
Don’t Completely Dismiss Recent Form
Whilst track history is very important, recent form can also be an important factor. Confidence is a huge factor in all sports and NASCAR is no exception. If a driver is confident, they may try ambitious manoeuvres and they can often pay off.
Pay Attention to Weather Conditions
The weather conditions can play a huge part in shaping the outcome of a race. Always check the forecast and ensure that you do this regularly. Some climates can be interchangeable and this can often have a last-minute effect on the finishing positions.
Warm weather will lessen the grip of the tyres and drivers are more likely to skid or potentially crash out of the race. Cold conditions will aid grip and could help particular teams. Always check for drivers and cars who have impressed in wet and windy conditions as this may give you a clue about their ability to cope with adversity.
Pit Stalls
Pit stalls will play a small part in potentially shaping the outcome of a race. Some of them can be extremely narrow and get congested mid-race whilst others offer more room and won’t particularly have an impact. Drivers who qualify in front will get the opportunity to choose their pit stall and the front position is often their preference.
