How to Bet on NASCAR Online 2025
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Last Updated: 28 July, 2025
NASCAR betting brings high-speed action and big-time opportunities.
With races nearly every weekend, there’s always a chance to place smart, exciting NASCAR bets.
How to bet on NASCAR races
Betting on NASCAR is different from traditional team sports.
Instead of spreads or totals, you’re choosing from a field of drivers, all racing for the same finish line. Here’s how it works:
How to bet on NASCAR online
Getting started with NASCAR online betting is simple.
Here’s how to place a bet from start to finish:
Common NASCAR bet types
Before placing your first wager, it helps to understand the main types of NASCAR bets.
Each offers a different way to play, depending on how much risk you want and how deep your knowledge goes.
Outright winner: This is the most popular NASCAR bet. You’re betting on which driver will win the race. With large fields and high odds, even favorites can return strong payouts.
Top 3 / Top 5 finish: Not ready to pick a winner? You can bet on a driver to finish in the top 3 or top 5. It’s a safer play, with lower payouts but better chances.
Head-to-head matchups: Two drivers are paired, and you pick which one finishes higher. Odds are tighter, but it removes the risk of betting against the entire field.
Group betting: Pick the best finisher out of a small group of drivers (usually 4–6). You don’t need to hit the race winner, just the top driver in that group.
Stage winners and lap leaders: Some NASCAR sportsbooks let you bet on who will win specific stages or lead the most laps. These are harder to predict but can offer great value.
These bet types keep things interesting across every lap and give you options whether you're new to NASCAR betting or a seasoned fan.
NASCAR futures betting
Futures are long-term bets where you pick a driver to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Unlike weekly races, you place these wagers before or during the season.
The odds for futures are typically higher than single-race bets.
That’s because you're betting on a season-long outcome, not one race.
For example, a top driver like Kyle Larson might open at +600 to win the title.
A $100 bet would pay $600 if he takes the championship.
These odds can change weekly based on performance, injuries, or point standings.
If you bet early, you may find value before the public catches on.
Some bettors hedge later in the year by backing another top contender.
That way, they can secure a profit no matter who wins the final race.
Futures are a smart option if you follow driver form and track history over time.
They’re also a fun way to stay invested throughout the season.
Understanding NASCAR odds
NASCAR odds show how much you can win on a bet and who the sportsbook sees as the favorite.
Most odds are shown in American format, using plus or minus signs.
Positive odds (like +800) mean you’ll win that amount on a $100 bet.
For example, +800 returns $800 profit on a $100 wager, total payout: $900.
Negative odds (like -150) mean you need to bet that amount to win $100.
So at -150, you’d bet $150 to win $100, total payout: $250.
Since races have 30+ drivers, most winners have positive odds, even the favorites.
That makes NASCAR a high-reward betting sport.
Odds shift during the week based on qualifying, practice results, or public action.
That’s why timing matters; early bets can grab better value.
Live NASCAR betting online
With NASCAR betting online, you don’t have to lock in your picks before the green flag.
Live betting lets you place wagers during the race as odds shift in real time.
You can bet on race winners, stage outcomes, or head-to-head matchups based on how things unfold.
If a top driver starts slow or there's a key pit stop, the odds adjust fast, giving sharp bettors a chance to jump in.
It’s a dynamic, fast-paced way to stay engaged from lap 1 to the checkered flag.
Top NASCAR races to bet on
Not all NASCAR events are created equal.
Some races attract more betting action, media coverage, and sharp odds than others.
These are the ones we always circle on the calendar:
Daytona 500: Known as "The Great American Race," it kicks off the season and draws a massive handle. It’s also one of the most unpredictable, great for betting long shots.
Coca-Cola 600: Held on Memorial Day weekend, this is the longest race of the season. Endurance and strategy play a bigger role here, which can impact betting lines.
Talladega Superspeedway: High speeds and big crashes make this a wild card. We’ve hit on +2500 winners here. Chaos creates betting value.
Bristol Night Race: Short track racing under the lights always brings drama. Driver rivalries and tight quarters make this one of the most entertaining to bet.
Championship Race: The final race of the season determines the NASCAR Cup champion. Futures, props, and live bets all spike during this high-stakes event.
These races offer top-tier action and some of the best opportunities to bet smart and win big.
Manufacturer & team NASCAR bets
NASCAR may look like an individual sport, but behind every driver is a team and a manufacturer.
These groups play a major role in how cars perform.
Some sportsbooks let you bet on which team or manufacturer will win a race.
Manufacturer betting usually includes:
Ford
Toyota
Chevrolet
These bets ask: Which car brand will produce the winning driver?
In a race where many top drivers use the same manufacturer, this can be a smart play.
Team bets go one step further.
Major NASCAR teams include:
Hendrick Motorsports
Joe Gibbs Racing
Stewart-Haas Racing
Team Penske
Instead of picking one driver, you're betting that the winner comes from a certain team.
These bets often offer better odds than just backing one driver, especially if a team has multiple strong entries.
This is a good option if you're familiar with how each team performs at specific tracks or if you notice a team is running stronger setups during the weekend.
NASCAR prop bets
Prop bets (short for proposition bets) offer more creative ways to wager on NASCAR.
These are side markets not tied to who wins the race.
Here are some popular NASCAR prop bets:
Car Number of the Race Winner: Books may offer even/odd odds or ask you to bet “over/under” a certain car number (like 12.5). This sounds random, but sharp bettors use it based on the field’s layout.
Number of Caution Flags: Will there be over or under 8.5 caution flags? This type of prop is ideal at wild tracks like Talladega, where big wrecks are common.
Winning Margin: Some sportsbooks offer bets on whether the race will end in a photo finish or by a wide lead, like “Under 0.5 seconds” or “Over 1.0 seconds.”
First Manufacturer to Win a Stage: Stage props allow you to bet on which car brand wins a segment of the race. It’s another way to bet on race flow and car setups.
Lead Changes Over/Under: At super speedways, there can be 20+ lead changes. Betting on race volatility adds another layer of strategy.
These props are often found during marquee races like the Daytona 500 or the final playoff rounds.
Not every sportsbook offers them, so line shopping helps.
Read our expert guides to betting right here: What is Rollover in betting.
NASCAR betting strategy
We’ve tested these NASCAR strategies ourselves and they’ve helped us make smarter, more consistent picks.
Start with track history.
Some drivers dominate certain tracks year after year.
We always check past finishes before betting a race.
Watch qualifying and practice.
Performance early in the weekend can reveal which teams have the best setup.
This gives us a clearer edge than relying on name value alone.
Avoid chasing longshots without reason.
While big odds are tempting, we look for value, drivers with +800 to +2000 odds who’ve shown speed and consistency.
Line shop. Odds can vary across sportsbooks.
Even a small change, like +1200 vs +1500, makes a difference long term.
Using a data-driven, race-specific approach has paid off far more than just betting on the biggest names.
Betting on other NASCAR series: Xfinity and Truck
Most NASCAR betting focuses on the Cup Series, but smart bettors also look at the Xfinity Series and Truck Series.
These series are more unpredictable, which means there’s often more value in the odds.
Here’s what to know:
Xfinity Series: This is the second-highest level of NASCAR. Many Cup drivers drop down to race here, while younger talent tries to prove themselves. Oddsmakers don’t always adjust fast when a Cup driver enters a lower-tier race, which creates value if you stay on top of entry lists.
Truck Series: This series features smaller tracks and newer drivers. Crashes are more common, and outcomes can be chaotic. But that chaos also means underdogs win more often—especially at short tracks or superspeedways.
Because there's less betting volume, sportsbooks may set softer lines here.
If you follow driver development or series-specific trends, you can find strong plays before odds shift.
For newer bettors, these series are also a great way to learn NASCAR race dynamics without the heavy media spotlight.
Stage racing in NASCAR
NASCAR’s modern format splits most races into three stages.
This change adds drama to the race and more ways to bet.
Each stage gives drivers a chance to earn points toward the season-long championship.
But for bettors, it opens up a few angles:
Stage Winner Bets: You can bet on who will win Stage 1, Stage 2, or Stage 3. Some drivers start strong but fade late, making them ideal early-stage picks.
Live Betting by Stage: Odds shift between stages. After a caution or restart, you can jump in with live bets before the next segment starts.
Strategy Insights: Teams often plan pit stops and tire changes based on stage breaks. If you track team strategy, you can spot smart in-race betting moments.
A typical Cup race might break down like this:
Stage 1: Laps 1–60
Stage 2: Laps 61–120
Stage 3 (Final Stage): Laps 121–200
Not every driver is built for full-race endurance.
Some dominate early laps or certain stage lengths.
That makes stage racing one of the most important betting angles outside of picking the winner.
Frequently asked questions
You can view our dedicated page for more information on how we test and review sportsbooks.
Additionally, you can view all of our sportsbook reviews for the top platforms you can bet on NASCAR online.
How to bet on NASCAR sites responsibly
Although knowing your sports helps, betting is primarily luck-based, so use these top tips to practice responsible gambling when placing a bet:
Limits: Betting sites allow you to set betting limits, i.e. limit how much you can bet in a day, a week, or a month.
Cashouts: You can withdraw your winnings quite easily from any betting site, which prevents you from spending all of your winnings.
Help & resources: Betting platforms provide access to resources for problem gamblers and point them to organizations that can help with gambling addiction.
To help with gambling, we created a 'How To Bet On Sports' guide that helps new sports bettors understand the industry better, to play safer and more securely.
Problem gambling organizations and charities in the US
Why you can trust us
At Sporting Post, we prioritize accuracy, objectivity, and transparency in every piece of content we write.
Our expert team conducts thorough, real-world testing of betting platforms, ensuring reviews and insights are unbiased and reliable from a human perspective.
We adhere to strict ethical standards, maintaining editorial independence and avoiding conflicts of interest, while regularly updating our content to reflect the latest trends and developments.
Our mission is to empower bettors with trustworthy information, backed by rigorous research and a commitment to responsible gambling.
You can trust us to provide clear, concise, and honest advice, helping you make informed betting decisions.
Editorial policy
Our editorial policy ensures thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content through strict sourcing standards and diligent review by top betting experts and seasoned editors.
This process maintains the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
References
To test betting site products accurately, we dive into analytical research of the betting industry, so we understand what features are best for you.
Below are some of the references we use when making such decisions:
https://wsb.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Beggy_2023__Betting_Kelly.pdf
https://sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2024/01/stephen-shapiro-sports-gambling.php
Contributors
Josh Miller
Author
Josh Miller, Sporting Post’s Sports & Casino Editor, brings over five years of experience in feature writing, blogging, and SEO.
With a strong background in football coverage and sports betting, his work has been featured in VAVEL.
Josh also writes extensively about online casinos, providing expert insights into games, bonuses, and gambling trends.
His engaging and informative content makes him a reliable resource for Sporting Post readers.
Bradley Gibbs
Reviewed By
With over 12 years of experience, Bradley Gibbs is a seasoned sports betting writer and analyst specializing in uncovering value bets across football, horse racing, tennis, and golf.
His extensive coverage of these sports has been featured on numerous websites and in The Racing & Football Outlook, a renowned UK betting publication.
Bradley's expertise lies in identifying betting edges and delivering insightful, data-driven content for informed wagering.