Auto racing betting works much like betting on golf: you are picking one driver out of a big field, so prices are long and favorites rarely pay short odds. The most common bets are the race winner, head-to-head matchups, top finishes and season championship futures. You can bet on series such as NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar at licensed sportsbooks in US states where sports betting is legal, as long as the state has approved those events.
Racing Series You Can Bet On
Sportsbooks focus on the biggest series and events. These are the ones you are most likely to find:
- NASCAR Cup Series: NASCAR’s top national series.
- Formula 1: the world championship of open-wheel racing, with races around the globe.
- IndyCar: the top US open-wheel series, home of the Indianapolis 500.
- Motorcycle racing: series such as MotoGP and AMA Supercross.
- Drag racing: the NHRA series.
In the US, each state decides which events its sportsbooks may offer. Indiana’s approved list, for example, includes NASCAR, Formula One, IndyCar, MotoGP, Supercross and NHRA drag racing. Coverage of smaller series varies a lot from book to book. Expect more markets for marquee races than for a regular-season event in a lower series.
Types of Racing Bets
Race Winner (Outright)
You pick the driver who wins the race. With a field of roughly 20 to 40 cars, even the favorite is usually priced at plus money, and longshots can pay 50 to 1 or more. It is the hardest racing bet to win and the one with the biggest payouts.
Head-to-Head Matchups
The sportsbook pairs two drivers and you bet on which one finishes ahead of the other. Where they finish in the field does not matter. Here is an example with made-up drivers:
| Matchup | Odds |
|---|---|
| Driver A | +130 |
| Driver B | -110 |
A $100 bet on Driver A wins $130 if Driver A finishes ahead of Driver B, even if that means 9th against 10th. A bet on Driver B needs $110 to win $100. If your driver crashes out early, the bet is usually lost, so matchups reward picking drivers who finish races. Check the book’s house rules for what happens when both drivers fail to finish or one does not start.
Top Finishes
Many books let you bet on a driver to finish in the top 3, top 5 or top 10. The payout is lower than for a win, but the bet has more ways to cash.
Championship Futures
You bet before or during the season on who wins the title. Futures tie up your money for months, but prices can move a lot as the season goes on, which can give you a chance to combine or hedge positions later.
Other Props
For big races you may also find bets on pole position, the winning manufacturer or team, and whether a driver finishes on the lead lap.
How Racing Odds Work
US sportsbooks show racing odds as moneylines. A price of +500 means a $100 bet wins $500, which implies a 16.7% chance of winning. A price of +1000 implies 9.1%. Add up the implied chances of every driver in a race and you will get well over 100%. The extra is the sportsbook’s margin.
That is why price shopping matters more in racing than in many sports. The same driver can be +800 at one book and +1000 at another.
If you mostly bet team sports such as the NFL, the big change is that one bad pit stop, penalty or crash can end a driver’s day. Outcomes swing more, so bet smaller amounts on outrights than you would on a point spread.
NASCAR Betting
NASCAR’s championship format affects how you should bet futures. For 2026 the Cup Series brought back “The Chase”: the top 16 drivers in the regular-season standings qualify for the final 10 races, their points are reset with the regular-season leader getting a 25-point cushion, and there are no eliminations along the way. The driver with the most points after the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway is champion. Race wins are now worth 55 points instead of 40.
For championship futures, that means steady top finishers and frequent winners both matter, and a single bad race in the final 10 no longer knocks a driver out on its own.
Track type matters in NASCAR. The schedule mixes superspeedways, intermediate ovals, short tracks and road courses, and each rewards different drivers and cars. Before you bet, look at how each driver has run at similar tracks, not just their recent form.
Formula 1 Betting
Formula 1 fields are smaller than NASCAR’s, and each team runs two cars. That makes teammate matchups a natural bet: both drivers have the same equipment, so you are judging the drivers rather than the cars. Qualifying, sprint and race markets are usually priced separately, so check which session a bet covers.
Where to Bet on Racing
- Licensed US sportsbooks: in states where sports betting is legal, state-licensed online and retail books offer racing markets. What each book offers varies by state and operator.
- Las Vegas: see our guide to Las Vegas sportsbooks.
- Offshore sportsbooks: many take US players, but they are not licensed by any US state regulator. Our offshore sportsbook reviews cover their current status.
For other sports and bet types, see our sports betting guides.
Auto Racing Betting FAQ
What is the easiest racing bet to win?
Head-to-head matchups and top-10 finishes, because you do not need your driver to win. They pay less than outright winner bets.
Why are racing odds so long?
Because one driver has to beat a whole field. With roughly 20 to 40 cars, even the best driver loses most races.
Can I bet on Formula 1 in the US?
Yes, at licensed sportsbooks in states where sports betting is legal, subject to each book’s market list.
Please gamble responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.