There are a few more popular sports when it comes to betting than horse racing. Major events on the calendar, such as the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup, attract seasonal fans to make wagers on the action, ensuring that the long-term success of the sport is always assured.
NASCAR is in a period of transition in this modern day, with the sport facing huge challenges to ensure its long-term success.
Therefore, could motorsport take inspiration from events on the horse racing calendar when it comes to the betting markets available?
You can find out more about the horse racing odds available here – https://www.twinspires.com/betting-guides/what-do-horse-racing-odds-mean/, but could significant chances in betting on NASCAR make it a more enjoyable betting proposition for gamblers?
Challenges Facing NASCAR
NASCAR’s long-term future looks to be cast in doubt at this stage, as the sport has failed to recapture the strong attendances that were prominent throughout the 1990s in 2025. The sport saw its viewership decline in 2025, with the Cup Series seeing around 2.45 million for the season, illustrating a sharp 14% drop in comparison to 2024.
Horse racing’s popularity has almost gone in the opposite direction, with the 2025 Kentucky Derby being the most-watched edition of the event since 1989. It isn’t just the opening leg of the Triple Crown that has been a massive plus for racing, with NBC revealing that their television audience for 2025 was up by 6%.
A major reason for NASCAR’s issues stems from the sheer number of TV deals that are in play, with action on the Cup Series being streamed on TNT, Amazon, NBC, and Fox.
The number of subscription deals is hurting the viewership. Meanwhile, NASCAR also has to compete with the NFL throughout much of the season, which has been damaging to the numbers that it has been able to attract.
Can You Bet on NASCAR Races?
Like most sports in this modern day, bettors are able to make wagers on the NASCAR action throughout the season.
However, given that qualifying plays a major role in the chances of drivers, it’s likely that many bettors typically won’t put their money down early.
Betting on the race winner is the most prominent selection, and this can often be an interesting value option, with many of the field being priced up at over 10/1. Meanwhile, bettors can also wager on the head-to-head matchups and group betting markets.
Both of these are uncommon in most sports, but they are available when wagering on horse racing. Being able to place a wager on a selection finishing in the top three or four places is incredibly common with newcomers to betting, as it offers a layer of insurance if your selection isn’t the outright winner.
Ante-Post Betting
Ante-post betting is incredibly popular when wagering on horse racing, as bettors can get the ultimate value on their selection by backing a potential runner in the Derby or Breeders’ Cup Classic up to six months in advance of the race.
This serves as a big incentive for experienced bettors, who will have a better understanding of a runner and their plans. Ante-post betting isn’t as popular when wagering on NASCAR, as the outright championship odds aren’t available until about a month before the first race of the season.
Championship odds being available slightly earlier will enable experienced bettors to get better value on their selections, while having race winner odds available earlier could also see more gamblers getting involved and making wagers on the NASCAR action throughout the season.
Live Betting
One of the most popular betting markets for major sports such as American Football, soccer, and basketball comes in the form of live betting.
That is also the case when it comes to horse racing, especially when making wagers on National Hunt action. Given that NASCAR races can last four hours on end, there is certainly a demand for live betting options to be available. This will give fans watching the action an opportunity to make returns based on how they feel the race will play out.
Being able to wager on the race result after the action is underway would be a major benefit, with the odds constantly changing based on how the action on the track is playing out. Live betting options will allow NASCAR bettors to get even closer to the action and make informed decisions based on how the race is going.
Furthermore, horse racing action can be live-streamed with some of the leading sportsbooks, providing bettors with the opportunity to watch how their runner performs. This would be a welcome addition for NASCAR fans, too, but the sheer number of television deals that the Cup Series now has will make this a challenge.