NASCAR is a super high octane sport, three or four hours of ferocious nose to bumper racing, the smell of gasoline, the engine noise and the ever-present threat of a huge wreck. It is among the most popular sports in the USA and attracts a passionate, noisy, and heavily partisan crowd that watches the action from the speedways and bars nationwide.
To add even more drama to proceedings, it is also a favorite among gamblers, with punters placing bets on race day. The thrills and spills on track are exciting, but winning big at the bookmakers makes it all the more sweeter, especially if your driver comes home in first place.
But NASCAR betting can be a little confusing or daunting for beginners, and the uninitiated should be aware of strategies and tactics when it comes to wagering their money. Here are some basics to get you started, and, coupled with some research and good knowledge of the sport, help you to become a successful NASCAR bettor.
Multiple Driver Bets
A great thing about placing bets on motor racing is that you don’t have to choose one side or the other to win. Many bettors back multiple drivers in any one race, to spread their chances of winning. But it can seem like a lot of money to shell out. When betting on sports (or in casinos) it is always important to set your limits, and never bet more than you can afford. It is also wise to set aside money for betting as entertainment, rather than dip into your food budget. Back to the racing – a good multi-driver betting strategy is to select one or two drivers who you really believe have a good chance of winning, and place larger amounts on them. Then maybe choose a couple of long shots – drivers who are looking promising but maybe aren’t in a competitive team, or a driver whose seat is under threat, giving him real motivation. If you spend some time calculating your odds, wagers and potential winnings, you should be able to recoup your bets and make a bit of money on top.
Experts
If you’re a NASCAR rookie (when it comes to betting, not driving) then it is prudent to follow the advice and opinions available from inside the sport. You can find countless expert resources online with regard to predictions, odds, betting spreads, but sometimes it can be hard to follow it all. Fortunately, at WSN.com you can learn more about NASCAR, as it provides a one-stop-shop for fans to be in-the-know and up-to-date. But betting strategy is about more than just bookmakers odds. Watch the TV coverage and listen to what the pundits say – it is their job to know the ins and outs of the sport, in great detail. The more you learn about in-form drivers, teams which are in harmony or chaos, tire temperatures, engine changes – the list goes on – the better equipped you will be to place winning bets. Knowledge is most definitely power.
Popular Bets
We mentioned multiple-driver betting as a good entry-level NASCAR betting strategy. But bettors like to play in many other ways. Of course, betting on an outright winner will always bring you the highest return on a single wager, but if you feel it is going to be a close race, betting on a podium finish spreads out your chances of making some money. The returns may be lower than betting on multiple outright winners, but betting on a top-three finish is a good way to gain some experience gambling on stock car racing, and the outlay will be less. If you can’t wait until race day to place a bet, you can, like many other fans, bet on who will claim the pole position. Qualifying can be just as exciting for spectators and bettors alike. Another popular bet is driver matchups, picking two participants and betting on the outcome between them. People also like to bet on who sets the fastest lap during the race, and the fastest driver around the circuit once is often nowhere near the podium.
Known & Unknown
As mentioned before, research into the sport will help you dramatically shift the odds in your favor. NASCAR drivers, like all motorsport contestants, are human, and their form peaks and troughs throughout their careers, throughout a season, and throughout a race weekend. Keeping up to date with race results, team standings, inter-team rivalries and many more factors will enable you to form a clear picture of what is going on. And with a good overview, you can get an idea of what to expect. But part of the appeal of NASCAR is unpredictability, so also keep an eye on the weather report, as bad weather can really throw the field all out of whack. Being able to predict both the expected and the unexpected is the key to successful NASCAR betting. Stock car racing is an iconic American sport, and betting on it is a rite of passage for many Americans. Follow these tips to get started, and hopefully win some money betting on NASCAR.
