If you’ve ever glanced at a betting app for a NASCAR race, the screen can look like a complex math equation. Numbers like +800 and +1200 next to drivers’ names often feel more confusing than helpful. The good news is, it’s far simpler than it appears. Properly analyzing NASCAR betting odds is less about complex math and more about a simple translation. We’re going to turn those numbers into plain English, giving you the confidence to understand the conversation or bet on NASCAR online.
What Are ‘Odds’? A Quick Guide to Favorites and Longshots
Think of the numbers on a betting line, or odds, as price tags for risk. They tell you two quick things: who is expected to win, and how much a winning bet pays out.
Every race has a favorite—the driver oddsmakers believe is most likely to win, perhaps because they’ve been fast all season or have a great history at a specific track. Because they are the “safe” choice, a winning bet on a favorite pays out less money in a classic low-risk, low-reward scenario.
Then you have the underdogs, also called longshots. These are the drivers who would need a bit of luck to pull off a surprise victory. Betting on a longshot is riskier, but the potential payout is much bigger if they manage to cross the finish line first. This high-risk, high-reward dynamic is what makes watching them so exciting.
^How to Read NASCAR Odds: The Simple ‘Plus Sign’ Rule
When you look at the betting lines for who will win a race, you’ll almost always see a plus sign (+) next to a driver’s name. This symbol is your key to understanding the payout, and the rule is simple: the number after the plus sign shows how much profit you would make on a $100 bet.
But you don’t have to think in hundreds. Let’s make it more practical. Imagine you see a top driver like Denny Hamlin listed at +700 to win. If you were to place a simple $10 bet on him, and he took the checkered flag, you would earn a $70 profit.
The higher that number, the bigger the longshot—and the bigger the potential reward. A driver at +4000 is a massive underdog compared to a favorite at +500. With this one rule, you can glance at the odds and instantly understand the story.
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Who Is Favored to Win the NASCAR Race This Weekend?
Now that you can decode the numbers, let’s answer the big question: who is favored to win? The odds tell a clear story about which drivers experts expect to see battling for the lead.
This week, many eyes are on Kyle Larson, sitting as a favorite at around +450. He’s earned that spot because he’s consistently one of the fastest drivers at this style of track. A successful $10 bet on Larson would net you a $45 profit. This is the kind of information that helps you understand many free NASCAR picks for this race.
Further down the list, you might find a driver like Ryan Blaney at +1800. His odds reflect that he’s a talented competitor who could pull off an upset. This is why you’ll often see longshots included in NASCAR expert picks; a small $10 wager here would turn into a big $180 win.
Picking the one winner out of a 40-car field is incredibly challenging. While knowing the favorites is great, what if you could just bet on a driver to have a good day, not a perfect one?
^NASCAR Odds provided by MyBookie
Beyond the Winner: Understanding ‘Top 5 Finish’ Bets
Instead of picking the one winner, you can place a bet on a driver to simply finish in the Top 5. This is a popular prop bet, perfect for when you think a driver will run well but might not take the checkered flag. Your chances of cashing a ticket are much higher.
The trade-off for this safer bet is a smaller payout. Remember how Kyle Larson was +450 to win? His odds for a Top 5 finish might be something like -120. For the first time, we’re seeing a minus sign, which almost always means you are betting on a very likely outcome.
The number after the minus (-) sign tells you how much you need to bet to win $100. At -120, you’d bet $120 to win $100. More realistically, a $12 bet wins you $10. These bets are often considered good value because they reward consistency over a single win.
^You’re Ready to Follow the Action
You are now equipped to read NASCAR betting lines and understand the risk tied to each driver. You can follow any upcoming race preview, join the conversation with confidence and make some NASCAR predictions.
Ready to see your new knowledge in action without any risk? Give this a try:
- Find weekend’s odds on MyBookie Sportsbook.
- Identify the top 2-3 favorites and one longshot using your new skills.
- Watch the race and track how they perform to see the odds in action!
- You’re not just watching cars anymore; you’re seeing strategy play out.
| NASCAR Betting this Weekend: Place your Bets anywhere, anytime by downloading the MyBookie APP |
About the Author
- Henry Watkins
- Henry Watkins is a Sports Writer at MyBookie. Originally from Scotland and currently residing in Metro Atlanta with his wife Penny, Henry covers a range of topics, including competitive and professional sports as well as sports business. In addition to his sports writing, he is also an author of horror fiction, with works such as Karaoke Night, Crueller, and Off The Grid.
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