NASCAR

One could also look at podium finishes as an alternative option. More than just singling out each driver and placing them under a specific category, let that be first, second, or third place, a bet can be made over a driver nailing one of the three spots, no matter which one it is. Podium bets will have less favorable odds, yet they increase your chance of winning in case picking on the exact winner of the race becomes harder than expected. By the way, it always is. 

Prop bets are also available for the NASCAR series. One could pick a driver to end within the first five or ten spots of the race, as well as over the season. Also, there are picks that range from which manufacturer will top the scoring board by the end of the regular season, as well as which driver leads the most laps by the end of everyone; the selection is ample. 

Some other betting options range from which driver records the fastest lap to make your selection as to which driver, amongst two of your choice, will finish the race first. Surely, there are plenty of options where to choose from through the regular and playoff season. As in any other sport, be sure to consider all data at hand and make your betting picks to make the most out of each wager.

For this dynamic, odds can slightly range amongst the top favored drivers. For instance, throughout some stages of the regular season, drivers such as Danny Hamlin can range between the +700 to +800 odds, and the top five ranks might record odds between the first pick starting at +700 to the fifth pick at anywhere between +1,000 to +1,500. Making a pick over which driver to win is a challenging task, no matter how much one can analyze data. 

As for head-to-head props bets, one could favor two specific drivers, and odds will tend to reflect on the narrow margin of statistical risk being lowered from other categories such as race winner. Let’s say one picks Hamlin to win over Kyle Larson at a specific race. Hamlin’s odds for the Daytona 500 or the Southern 500 may have ranged between the -130 and -120 range, while Larson’s could have been at around the +100 and +120 range.

For this case, Hamlin’s increased chances of winning an event, which he has previously proven to be dominant at, are certain factors that push his odds to the negative range. At the same time, Larson is placed as a contender to surpass those individual performances recorded by Hamlin. 

Odds can also be different among the different types of prop bets. Using Hamlin an example, for either of the 500-mile events, Hamlin’s odds to make it amongst the top three spots could easily range from the +250 and +300 range, while his odds of making among the top five reduce down to +150 and +200, just as they do for making it amongst the top 10 with odds ranging at the -200 range. 

Understanding how these odds work might just give some bettors an edge before placing any wagers on specific drivers under specific NASCAR categories. 

For the 2021 season, it was Larson who recorded the most race wins with a total of 10, followed by both Martin Truex Jr. with and Alex Bowman with four wins each and Ryan Blaney with 3. This would explain why Larson, before the beginning of any regular or playoff race, would top the lead spots with odds that may range +700. He easily surpassed all of his closest contenders with the most chances of making it to the top. 

Adding Hamlin to the equation with an average running position at 7.4 might explain why both himself and close contender Larson are always leading the list of various categories for the best option to bet on. 

Other props bets such as fastest lap runs might also place Larson as a top favorite with a total of 1,288 fast lap runs, followed by Hamlin almost halfway for teak of 703 races. This would explain why Larson would also dominate odds against close contenders when it comes to some props bets categories. 

These examples show a way to read odds when it comes to deciphering which drivers top which categories and which picks one should favor at specific moments throughout the season. Other stats such as Green Flag Passes may also point as to which drivers might make sudden attempts to overtake close rivals even when hazardous situations are present, yet at a minimum. Interpreting stats is another important aspect of making the best of each wager you place on NASCAR picks and races.