In NASCAR, a new rule has been implemented to ensure the race gets finished in an exciting, yet safe, manner. Often times the competitive ending of a race will lead to a crash and the yellow caution flag Having the race end on a caution is something NASCAR wants to avoid as mush as possible it puts a damper on a lengthy competition. To counteract this they have created overtime rules
These new rules play an important role in how bets are graded and decided.
The main idea is that they want the race to finish on a green flag under a green and white checkered flag:
- Green flag means go
- Green and White checkered flag indicates the end of a race stage once the first ten drivers cross the finish line.
In the case of a yellow caution flag at the final stage of a race, the race will restart and if the drivers make it to a designated line on the track called the “overtime line” without another caution, then the race can continue with a finish and be considered official.
In some instances they may need to repeat this overtime process until they achieve an official finish and have a winner.
How Does Live NASCAR Betting Work?
It used to be that people placed a bet on who they thought would win and then sat back to enjoy the race. If your bet won at the end of the race, you cashed in your ticket and received your winnings. Nowadays there are tons of bets you can make while the race is going on. This is called live betting and it’s revolutionized the way betting and spectating work together.
NASCAR races are broken down into three stages which makes for tons of betting opportunities. The reason for these stages is to implement a scoring system used to rank the drivers and teams at the end of the season.
For example, the Daytona 500, which is a 200-lap race, consists of two 60-lap stages and a final 80-lap stage. At the end of each stage, the top drivers are awarded points depending on their positions.
Both the drivers and the teams are incentivized to finish in good quality positions throughout the race, not just the end. This means a lot of strategizing takes place as drivers and teams need to make tough decisions at lots of different points in the event.
From the punter’s perspective, each race can be seen as three separate events with each segment opening the door for separate wagers. As the story of the race develops, the live betting odds set by oddsmakers will be adjusted accordingly on the fly.
Since oddsmakers have to make decisions fast, there’s a better chance that they will make mistakes. Keep an eye on the odds as they change and if you think they’re off-base, make a play to exploit their mistake.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when live betting on NASCAR:
- Remember the pre-race odds (or write them down). Being able to compare new lines on the fly is vital and can tell you what the oddsmakers think is playing out and why. Do you agree with them or do you see something different?
- How many laps remain? How are the cars? Si there any damage or other issues to consider?
- What are some of the key team needs? In NASCAR you must consider more than just the driver’s perspective. Teams may often sacrifice one driver’s positioning in order to benefit another or help he team as a whole. If you understand how the team’s other drivers fit into the plan you can make more informed predictions
- Has there been anything unusual in the starting stages that wasn’t expected? If so, check to see how much the line has moved because of it. Sometimes, oddsmakers overreact to early surprises and move the line too far. This can be a great opportunity to find value.
- Like in all outdoor sports, the weather is crucial. In the case of NASCAR, you need to consider how the weather may impact the road and the vehicle, in particular the tires. Also, some driver’s perform better or worse in specific conditions.
- Has the weather changed during the race? Has the weather changed on race day compared to the days of qualifying?
Different sportsbooks will offer different types and options for live betting. If this is an aspect you are particularly fond of, be sure to do your research on which sites specialize in it.
NASCAR Betting Markets
In sports betting a market is another word for a specific bet. The main markets for NASCAR betting are the straight-up winner, podium finish and head-to-head. Some of the most popular NASCAR bets, however, are prop bets and those can get more in-depth and are a lot of fun for punters.
Straight Winner Markets
Betting on an outright winner is the most basic bet you can make and traditionally the most popular. Bet on a driver, if they win, you win. That’s it. With large fields of competitors, even the most highly favored drivers offer long odds because winning is so challenging. Bettors can also make field bets which are wagers on every driver outside of the listed group of favourites.
Place Markets (Podium FInishes)
If you’ve ever bet on horses or dogs, betting on a driver to place will already be familiar to you.
NASCAR wagering offers podium finish bets that require your driver to finish anywhere in the top three. While easier than a straight winner bet, these bets payout less as you now have a small cushion for driver to not win the race but still win your bet.
It is important to note that your wager will payout the same regardless if your driver finishes 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
Head to Head Markets
NASCAR has a lot of rivalry and one of the ways oddsmakers like to entice more action from bettors is from lines that put two drivers against each other.
With these bets you simply need your driver to finish higher than the other driver and it doesn’t matter if one or both drivers doesn’t make it to the finish line. Wherever they wind up in the final standings is the official result. Your ticket will pay out according to these standings.
NASCAR recently added stages to their races and in so doing they’ve opened the door to a lot more strategy per team and a lot more betting opportunity for the public. With races segmented into three parts we now see betting that poses questions pertaining to each specific stage rather than just the race as a whole.