NASCAR betting

By Steve Larson - www.rakemeback.com

NASCAR isn’t just your everyday motorsport betting on which is child’s play. There’s a whole lot of strategy involved in races, and consequently, there are countless intricacies involved in handicapping these races too.

In order to begin to understand some of the aspects involved, you need to have a thorough understanding of NASCAR rules and regulations as well as the points system.

In a NASCAR race, drivers earn points according to their finishing position. The winner gets 185 points, followed by the second place finisher at a gap of 15 points. There are 3 different scales applied to those finishing from 2nd position down. From 3rd to 6th place, a gap of 5 points will be wedged between drivers. From 6th to 11th, that gap becomes 4 pts, and from 11th all the way down to last, the gap is 3 pts. This shows why it never pays to give up in NASCAR. Even as cars crash out and lose their positions, drivers do everything they can to return, because a few positions gained can mean a difference of a good few points.

In addition to the points awarded for position, drivers also get extra points if they lead a lap in the race, and if they lead the most laps throughout the race. They get 5 points for leading a lap, and 5 further points for leading the most laps. This way, the second place man can cut his 15 points deficit to 10 points (the winner gets a minimum of 190 points, because he cannot physically win the race without leading at least the last lap). The lap leader is considered the driver who crosses the finish line first, so if someone leads a whole lap just to be overtaken a few yards before the finish line, it’s all too bad for him.

This leads to drivers employing strategy when taking their opponents over. Also, a driver can easily snatch the 5 points by skipping a stop when the front runners make their pit stops.

Lap leads count under the green and the yellow flags as well, so there are tons of possibilities for different drivers to steal the lead for a lap or two.

NASCAR starts are rolling starts, preceded by a meeting of the drivers two hours before the actual start. Those who fail to attend, get penalized and start from the back. No driver is allowed to get into his vehicle before the national anthem, and no one can start until the race marshal gives the command: ‘Gentlemen, start your engines’.

The top 12 drivers in the general standings will qualify for the ‘Chase for the Sprint Cup’.

As far as NASCAR betting goes, handicapping is of course of utmost importance. By simply watching the series, one can get a good enough idea on who’s in shape and who’s not, although in NASCAR, different drivers’ histories on given circuits also weigh in heavily.

There are several different types of tracks, which the given driver may or may not be comfortable with. By the end of the season, the overall standings also play quite a role in shaping each driver’s ambitions and determination.

Currently, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards have the most wins (three apiece) although the latter is barely in 7th place. Drivers also win money in every race they take part in. Up until 1967 points were awarded according to the prize money offered by each race. Races with smaller purses awarded fewer points.

NASCAR bets are settled according to finishing positions (whether it’s a match-up or positional bet we’re talking about), and it’s good to know that bets are not affected by subsequent penalties or any sort of later altering of the results. Drivers who retire are considered no action, if neither of the drivers you bet on in a match-up shows up, it’s a no-action situation again. If both drivers abandon the race, the one who completes the most laps is considered the winner of the match up.

You can also bet on the number of finishes (judged by the official race results), qualifying performance (again, determined by the official grid positions) and winning margins.

If a race is stopped for whatever reason and it’s not completed, yet it is ruled official, all prop bets and match-ups are ruled no action, and the out-rights will be settled according to the official results.

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