NASCAR, or the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, is known as the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the United States. The three series under the auspices of NASCAR include the Craftsman Truck Series, the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup. Some local races such as the Whelen Modified Tour and the All-American Series from Whelen are overseen by NASCAR. Overall, 1500 races at 100 tracks are considered NASCAR races.

Originally, NASCAR was viewed as a regional sport coming from the Southeastern United States, but today it ranks second only to football in television rating in the U.S. In addition to broadcasts in the United States, races by NASCAR drivers are shown in 150 countries globally. Fans show support of the sport by purchasing licensed products in the amount of $3 billion annually. Fortune 500 companies recognize the power of NASCAR fans and sponsor the sports more than any other sponsorship role.

The headquarters of NASCAR is at Daytona Beach, Florida. There are four local offices in North Carolina and regional offices in Arkansas, New York City and Los Angeles. Mexico City and Toronto Canada also have NASCAR offices. Additionally, most NASCAR teams consider North Carolina home.

Originally, Daytona Beach was the location where world land speed records were set with eight consecutive records between 1927 and 1935. The Daytona Beach road course was the site of fifteen speed records before 1935. As the location for land speed records moved to Bonneville Salt Flats, Daytona Beach was already synonymous with fast cars both on the beach and on the coastal highway A1A.

The years of Prohibition followed by the repeal in 1933 made use of fast cars with modified capacity driven at high speeds either to evade the police or later the revenuers. Much of this activity occurred near Wilkes County region of North Carolina, but also in other parts of the Southeastern United States. Races of the modified cars increased in numbers and popularity during those years.

Three people were primary in the creation of the NASCAR governing body in 1948: William France, Sr., Erwin ‘Cannonball’ Baker, and Bob ‘Barky’ Barkhimer. William France wanted to protect the drivers from unscrupulous promoters who collected gate receipts and did not award winning to the drivers. The first intent was to race Roadsters, Modified, and Stock cars. Only the Modified division raced during the first year. The first season had 52 Modified dirt track races. By 1949, the Strictly Stock division made its debut

Originally, the cars raced had to be virtually factory models, but beginning in 1950 it was recognized that modifications for safety and performance were desirable and the Division was named ‘Grand National?. By the mid 1960s, the races were run with race cars and a stock body.

Only one of the original season race tracks is still on the circuit today-Martinsville Speedway. The Darlington Raceway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are both recognized world wide for their famous events in the world of NASCAR racing. Originally, the race tracks were oval and measured 0.5 to 1 miles per lap. Darlington was 1.366 miles and known as a Superspeedway following its construction in 1950. The track was wider and faster than other locales. In 1959 the Daytona International Speedway at 2.5 miles became the sport icon.

During the early 1970’s new sponsorship was found for the sport in the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. The name of the series was changed from Grand National to the Winston Cup. The series today is known as the Sprint Cup. Prizes were increased significantly and a new points system was developed. The series dropped from 48 races during the season to 31 races. Busch Beer took on the sponsorship of the next competitive level of racers, known as the Late Model Sportsman.

ABC Sports began covering some of the Grand National races but abandoned the effort as not exciting enough for ratings. In 1979, the Daytona 500 race was picked up from flag to flag by CBS. During the final lap, the two leaders wrecked on the backstretch and the third place car driven by Richard Petty won the race. The two wrecked car drivers and a family member proceeded to add to the drama on national television by engaging in a fistfight. Fans that had been kept indoors by a major snowstorm on the U.S. eastern seaboard were introduced to the excitement and drama of the sport.

Changes in the point structure awarded to drivers and teams has also helped to maintain the excitement of the series ever since.

Some people believe that the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing has organized its racing events to provide some of the best NASCAR racing excitement that any fan could ever possibly hope to have in a lifetime. Some of the racing events that are organized involve truck racing, but by far, the stock car races in the Winston Cup challenge are NASCAR racing choices that are truly fine.

People can choose to visit the NASCAR Racing Museum and see the history of NASCAR in living color. The entire facility is designed to look like a NASCAR racetrack and fans are definitely thrilled beyond belief from the second they enter this prestigious facility. The fans see NASCAR racing memorabilia at its best and get to see the automobile that was driven by the Winston Cup leader.

Some fans think that a particular racetrack provides some of the finest NASCAR racing in the world. The entire complement of race cars are true exhibits of the quality and craftsmanship that go into making the NASCAR racing machine that circles the racetrack during racing season. As the rows of cars build with each lap, some fans agree that nothing in life could ever replace the thrill of all that excitement.

There is some NASCAR racing fans that are totally devoted to the colorful graphics on certain race cars. They think that when they see their favorite colors in the pole position, that they are experiencing some of the finest accomplishments that their NASCAR driver has shown to them thus far in his racing career. When that driver goes on to win the race, they will definitely think that they had a chance to see NASCAR racing at its very best.

The devotion that fans display week after week is evidence of their love for NASCAR racing. Even if a driver they admire has a bad week and fails to qualify for a race due to engine or mechanical failures, these fans still stand true and back their driver because they think that he is definitely the best driver in NASCAR history, just not that week.

Feel confident though that those fans will return the following week to see the finest racing done by their driver and they will look for them in the winners circle at the end of the race. If they fail to see them in the winner’s circle, you can be sure that they will be able to find an image of the driver attached to some memorable Nascar souvenir that will serve to remind fans of the marvelous time that they had at one of the finest stock car races in the world.

Some fans tend to forget what graphics are on a specific race car that they have seen many times at the Nascar track and when they watch a race on television. They know that they can go to the Nascar sites and get the information that they need in a jiffy and then they will be able to finish the model car that they have been working on for several days.

Nascar makes sure that the fans are always informed on the latest happenings in racing because the fans are a large part of the reason that it has become a successful business enterprise. It keeps fans informed through the use of internet web pages and through podcasts. Fans know that they can listen to commentaries to keep up on the latest Nascar changes.

Fans are entertained by some of the information that Nascar provides and relay that information to friends who might not have internet in their homes. The Nascar fan will most certainly be willing to print off the latest racing schedule so that their friends can make their plans to join in on the fun at a track that is close to their home.

Long trips to Nascar races anywhere in the United States can be fine tuned to include a visit to the Daytona International Raceway. Some fans make their RVs a rolling billboard to show the world how devoted they are to it and Nascar will provide them with all of the information that they can post on the outside of their recreational vehicle.

Some fans might want to join in on the tailgate parties that form at every Nascar track before a race. Nascar is willing to keep fans informed on what the latest crazes are with other fans in the manner that they do their barbeque cooking including any type of Nascar apron fashions that some fans have created that they wanted to share a picture of through an online Nascar related website.

Fans want to hear about the latest tongs designs that are being used to flip burgers and ribs and about the refrigeration supplies that they can create to keep their beer temperatures just right. Fans know how hot the action can be on the raceway and they are well aware of the rising temperatures in the parking lot that require beer to be free flowing and cold all of the time.

Some RV enthusiasts might want to know the rates to park their RV near the park and fans are good about sharing any type of information that makes the Nascar experience more enjoyable for the everyone. In exchange for all of this helpful information, Nascar fans promise to clean up after the tailgate parties so that the next tailgate party will be deemed a success just like the last.

Many Nascar fans would pay anything to gain an edge on any type of Nascar information. The information they get online might be about their favorite driver or it could be an interesting tidbit about the next racing season. Some racing fans are so keen on the motor sport that they will do some amazing things to be privy to something about Nascar that their friends do not know.

If the fans learned about a new raceway online that would be built near their hometown, then they are liable to get a jumpstart on reserving certain seats for their entire family to sit in and enjoy Nascar action at its finest. Nascar makes it easy to purchase tickets online, and will generally take reservations for tracks that are about to be finished.

A Nascar fan might even consider buying extra seats through the online ticket outlets so that they can turn around and offer those premium seats to their buddies at a premium price. The competitive nature of Nascar is not limited to the race track area only and some people enjoy the competitive sale of tickets to latecomers at the raceway for a regularly scheduled race.

Some people might not know how to go about purchasing Nascar tickets online. Nascar makes it very easy for fans to buy the number of seats that they want at any raceway that is listed on the racing schedule. Fans can review the racing schedule online and see which races that they want Nascar tickets for that will cover the entire year. The discounts for Nascar tickets could be found through other ticket retailers online because some people have extra tickets that they can not use.

There are many Nascar discounts available online that will allow fans to go to the track dressed in style. Every Nascar driver has a sponsor and a large assortment of gear that is fashioned after the drivers colors. Fans can find coolers, ball caps and plenty of tee shirts through online retailers and the discounts placed through the online outlets are sometimes lower than what is offered at the Nascar track.

There are inexpensive memorabilia for Nascar that is perfect for all age groups. Some people have large collections of Nascar gear that they purchased at a discount through a retailer that has set up their business on the internet framework. Many fans love showing their guests just how devoted they are to their driver and will create marvelous wall displays that are adorned with posters that were autographed at the track where the fans went to enjoy a race.

Betting Basics for NASCAR

NASCAR has become one of the hottest sports to bet, so we’re here to put you on the fast track to understanding racing odds and finding the best places to wager. The two main ways of gambling on NASCAR are “Betting to Win” a race and “Matchup Betting” which pits a driver against another driver or a group of drivers.

“Betting to Win” an outcome event like the Daytona 500 is the most common way to wager on a NASCAR race. Since NASCAR has multiple races over the course of a year, “Betting to Win” obviously offers numerous wagering opportunities. It is very important to note that not all the drivers in a race may be listed, so another NASCAR betting option is on the “field” which includes all other drivers not listed.

The NASCAR odds on a “field” bet depend on how many drivers are listed and how likely it is for the top drivers to win. In other words, if the same five or six drivers seem to battle it out for the top spots each race, the odds on the “field” will be much higher since there is less likelihood that one of the longshots in the “field” will win.

Here’s an example:

Favorites or top drivers = 5/1 to 10/1

30 or so other well-known drivers listed individually = 10/1 to 200/1

Field (collection of 20 or more not listed) = 80/1

Futures are another way you can “Bet to Win” that can offer you appealing NASCAR odds because you are betting far in advance of when the event takes place. For example, betting on the 2006 Daytona 500 now might get you much better value on Jeff Gordon, who may be 10/1 at this moment but dip to 6/1 closer to the event if he is on a roll. For more information on the value of betting NASCAR futures, read How Future Bets Can Pay Off.

In addition, NASCAR drivers are awarded Nextel Cup points according to the place they finish in each race, and those points are accumulated over the course of the season (click here to learn how the NASCAR points system works). Some Las Vegas sportsbooks will allow you to bet on who you think will finish atop the Nextel Cup standings, giving you yet another opportunity when it comes to betting NASCAR.

Meanwhile, “Matchup Betting” offers an alternative to simply betting on a NASCAR race’s winner. Artificial head-to-head matchups are created by oddsmakers and involve drivers who are all competing against each other to win the race, with the bet specifically focused upon how one driver finishes compared to another driver in the matchup. Group matchups are another “matchup betting” option particularly popular in golf and NASCAR, where you can select how one driver will finish amongst a group of other drivers. Both head-to-head and group matchup NASCAR odds are based on the money line (check out How to Read the Money Line for more information).

Since NASCAR has pre-qualifying, not everybody will start the race, so most group matchups will typically require all individuals in the group to start in order to be eligible for action. Different sportsbooks will often feature different matchups, and this is very important to note because you can shop around to different online sportsbooks and try to find the NASCAR matchup that’s most worth betting on. There are several advantages to betting at elite online sportsbooks but the very best will give you the most wagering opportunities, so it’s a good idea to consider betting online and find out what everybody has to offer.

Also, keep in mind that popular drivers tend to be over-rated and over-priced when oddsmakers create these artificial matchups due to their status of being more well-known with the public, so the underdogs are usually a good play because they offer more value. If you like a particular driver going into a NASCAR race, your best move is to compare matchups across multiple sportsbooks and put a larger wager on the biggest mismatch in your estimation. Then you can also put down a small wager on your favorite driver to win the race in case he takes the checkered flag. By betting your driver to win the race and a matchup, you’ll have double the fun knowing you’ve got double the chances to win!

If you are a knowledgeable NASCAR fan who has a good feel about how races will likely turn out, then you should most definitely trust your insights and use them to find strong bets. For those of you with less experience, several sports web sites have power rankings for drivers which should give you a good idea of who’s hot on the NASCAR racing circuit and who’s not. Of course it’s up to you to decide which driver you want to bet on, but the more you learn about NASCAR racing, the more prepared you will be when placing your bet. Hopefully now at least you know the basics of betting NASCAR and how to use NASCAR odds to your advantage!

> Learn Advanced Handicapping Theory for NASCAR!

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Handicapping Theory for NASCAR

By Michael Cash

Pregame Pro Handicapper

Over the last 10 years NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) has been the fastest growing spectator sport in the world. It now boasts over 75 million fans worldwide and can be seen on television each week in over 150 countries. NASCAR holds 17 of the top 20 attended sporting events in the U.S. each year. Not surprisingly, is the growing number of NASCAR fans who have turned to betting on this popular pastime.

How to Handicap NASCAR:

When handicapping a NASCAR race there are a number of things to keep in mind:

Trends: NASCAR can be very streaky, much more so than other sports. When drivers get hot, they tend to stay hot, and when drivers are running cold it tends to take them a number of races to get things turned around. You will want to look at not only recent performances but historical performances, as well. Given that a NASCAR driver?s career can last 30+ years in some cases, knowing how to analyze information is crucial to long term profits

Drivers: Just like any other sport, NASCAR has its superstars. It is important to review driver statistics such as number of races run, top 5 finishes, and top 10 finishes ? for each track. Some drivers who only have average talent can still perform well on certain tracks just as some top drivers struggle at the same tracks every year. It is important know your driver?s history so you will know if betting on him will offer you value or not.

Tracks: NASCAR has 4 distinct types of tracks, Short, Intermediate, Superspeedway and Road Course. Not all drivers do well on all track types. It is important to research a driver?s history on a specific type of track before placing your bets. You want to be especially careful when handicapping NASCAR’s road races because there are very few drivers who consistently perform well on road courses.

Crews: This is often an overlooked aspect of NASCAR handicapping. Some of NASCAR?s races can last in excess of 5 hours. Knowing who has a strong Crew Chief and pit crew is imperative to betting successfully.

Many outsiders believe that NASCAR is just Full Throttle and left hand turns. However, the experts know that it’s a combination of many little things that get a car to victory lane.

Financial Benefits to Betting on NASCAR

Yes, it?s true! Compared to other sports, there are many financial benefits to wagering on NASCAR.

NASCAR betting is quite favorable and attractive to bettors due to the large payouts one can receive by simply picking the Race Winner. Odds on the most popular drivers start at 4/1, which means that a single winning NASCAR bet can pay for your next four, or more, bets. This is much better and potentially more lucrative compared to the regular 1/1 payout that bettors of NFL, NBA, MLB, etc. typically experience. Here are a few more reasons:

There are No ?Favorites?: NASCAR odds to win bets are always underdog (+) bets and even the drivers who oddsmakers feel are the strongest competitors for a particular race will start at least at 3/1 or 4/1 underdogs.

There is Time to Build a Bankroll: NASCAR wagering has a very high break-even point compared to other sports. This means that you can make several weeks worth of losing wagers without fear of getting buried because, in most cases, it will only take 1 race win to cover your losses in 5 or more races, depending on the line of the winner you select.

Same Competitors, Same Tracks: Because a NASCAR career can span decades, it’s relatively easy to get a handle on the competition in a short period of time. Also aiding in your handicapping is the fact that, with a few exceptions, NASCAR visits the same tracks year after year so you can use this historical information to make very accurate race predictions from season to season.

Types of NASCAR Bets

There are several different types of NASCAR bets available for each race including:

Odds to Win: This particular bet is the most simple and most popular. Simply pick the driver you think will win the race.

Matchups: This bet is offered for the Qualifying run and the actual race. It pairs two drivers together with one being the favorite (-) and one being the underdog (+). To win this bet you need to select the driver you believe will either qualify higher or finish the race higher.

Top Finishing Driver: This wager is similar to a Match Up bet but offers higher odds by setting a pool of drivers to pick from. To win this bet, the driver you select must finish higher than all the other drivers in the pool.

Manufacturer to Win: This is another very simple wager. Place a bet on which car maker (Ford, Dodge, Chevy or Toyota) will finish first in a particular race.

Manufacturer exacta: Those who have ever bet a horse race will recognize this term. To win this bet, you must pick the manufacturer of the first AND second place finishing cars in the correct order of a particular race.

> Learn the Betting Basics for NASCAR!

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With an admirable resistance, the American driver Kasey Kahne imposed himself to the veteran Tony Stewart in Sonoma, California, in the Toyota/SaveMart 350, sixteenth qualifying race of the Nascar Sprint Cup, where Kahne earned his first victory of the season and the first win in ten years for his current team, the Richard Petty Motorsports. As the competition went by, the pressure increased significantly and even more strongly among those trying to occupy the top positions. Kasey Kahne started fifth from the grid and focused on seeking an opportunity to move forward with the clear objective of placing himself up front. As the laps passed, Kahne was closer to achieve his purpose. From the moment that the driver of the #9 Dodge was positioned first, the competition took a very exciting twist; Kahne?s driving skills surprised all the other drivers. Tony Stewart, who was his closest pursuer, could not level the superiority that Kasey had in this competition and his attempts to reach or exceed him did not give the slightest result. Another who gave a strong fight was the Australian Marcos Ambrose, who joined Stewart in going hard on Kahne?s heels, but he was never intimidated by the pressure ceased and continued attacks, by contrast, the more these drivers tried to chase him, the more focused he remained on trying to keep his position. Although Kahne was not at the front most of the time, his eager for victory allowed him to lead the challenge during a run of 37 laps of the 113 scheduled, during which he gave a good display of talent, skill and concentration, and in spite that he lost his position at times because he had lo leave from the track to change tires and refuel, when returning it was very easily to him to go up front once again. The race passed by with a tone of excitement with Kasey Kahne setting the pace in it, while keeping a minimum distance of just one second from Stewart, everything seemed perfect until just two laps from the end, when an accident stopped the competition and while waiting for the security car to show up, the distances between the rest of the riders diminished. At that time everything seemed lost for Kahne, but as the race restarted, he speed up his car without losing his focus, resisting again the attacks by Stewart and Ambrose, whom even though they tried, they could not prevent the driver from Richard Petty Motorsports aboard the # 9 Dodge to cross the finish line as the checkered flag waved in the air. This victory has a very special meaning for Kasey and his team, which during the previous season was just about to be disbanded due to serious financial problems. This achievement comes as great joy and a breath of fresh air to the team and also gives Kahne, who so far is located in the thirteen position of the overall standings, a chance of getting on the group of the top 12 drivers to qualify for the Sprint Cup championship that will begin after the next ten races.

Jimmie Johnson, three-time NASCAR champion, was the overall winner last Sunday at the Auto Club Speedway Circuit, an event that stood as the fourth race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Johnson made his presence felt in Fontana, giving the kind of top-notch performance that makes him one of the favorites for the big title of the season. Beginning from third place on the grid, the driver of the #48 Chevrolet Impala ended up leading 126 of the 250 scheduled laps, skillfully maneuvering around all the incidents that might, for a lesser driver, have otherwise marred his victory. Although Johnson?s leadership was challenged nearly 30 times throughout the race, the Hendrick Motorsports driver stayed calm under pressure. He managed to recapture the lead after almost every restart during the race. The route, an extensive 500 miles, offered numerous obstacles to even the most skilled drivers; every stop and restart seemed to be a personal attack against Johnson, an attempt to impede his smooth performance. But Johnson advanced lap after lap, a machine that refused to fall behind. From the beginning, he maintained a close tail on those who started out in front. And by the end of the competition, Johnson was just behind Jeff Gordon, who stood at first. A serious accident had paused the competition, and the race had recently been restarted. Johnson, however, was not content with second. He accelerated deeply, surpassing Gordon in a tight battle with only six laps to go in the race. Johnson held his position until he crossed the finish line; the checkered flag marked first place. Gordon arrived second, and Juan Pablo Montoya took third to complete the podium. With the victory – his fifth of the season – Johnson earned 195 points, bringing his total to 5,728 points for first place in the drivers? standings. Mark Martin, previously in first, has fallen to second with 5,716 points; Martin finished fourth at Fontana, for which he earned 165 points. Montoya, a driver from Colombia, also poses a significant threat in the competition. Although Montoya has yet to achieve first-place in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, he has remained a constant driver; in fact, he is the only driver to have placed in the top five positions in the last four races. And, with 5,670 points, Montoya is not to be sneezed at. If he manages to take a title in the next races, he has a chance at winning the championship. “We have not lost ground in the standings, but we have to make the big stroke with a win, which I hope will come soon, although there is no pressure. The team again has done a great job,” said Montoya. The next event in the Chase is on Sunday, October 18th at Lowe?s Motor Speedway. The event will mark the historic circuit?s 50th anniversary; it will also offer a chance for the other top drivers to grab for a chance at the title.

With only a few races left to end the 2009 season of the Nascar Sprint Cup, the top 3 of the event?s 12 drivers are facing intensifying pressure, struggling to avoid being relegated to the bottom. The fight for the much sought-after title has generated a huge confrontation between the top drivers: Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, and Juan Pablo Montoya, among others. Johnson leads the event, aiming for his fourth consecutive title, but is closely followed by Martin. But at the Fast Relief Tums 500 – the sixth event of the Chase for the Sprint Cup – Denny Hamlin took first. The race was characterized by a number of incidents and a closely contested victory between Hamlin and Johnson. In the Martinsville Speedway circuit, Hamlin, who exited the grid in seventeenth position, took the most out of his car and, from the beginning, proved himself a dangerous contender. The race was plagued by a large number of accidents; as a result, the event was stopped constantly, and with each restart, drivers gained new opportunities to gain and change the lead. Johnson and Hamlin in particular were both able to place themselves favorably after the restarts, often alternating for the top position. Hamlin in particular was able to take the most advantage of the constant interruptions. With only 138 laps of the 501 scheduled, it was Johnson who was setting the pace of the competition, although he was closely followed by Hamlin. The driver of the Joe Gibbs Racing team managed, in the upcoming laps, to exceed Johnson in the considerable number of restarts during the race. With just 52 laps to go, the race was given a new pole, and thus a new chance for the Toyota Camry #11 driver to dominate the challenge. With only 12 laps left, Hamlin eased into first, setting a gap between him and his closest rivals, who seemed unable to do anything to slim down the advantage. With just two laps to go, the race was paused for the final time after an accident from Scott Speed. Hamlin, completely separated from the vast majority of the drivers, drove the last leg with Johnson following desperately behind. Despite the challenge, Hamlin was able to maintain the lead. “I knew he was going to be strong on the restarts,” Hamlin said of Johnson. “I know those guys are going to be aggressive to try to win. We had the best car at the end. The 48 didn’t do anything that he shouldn’t have and made sure he protected his points lead. He gave us a little respect as well.” At the end of the final lap, the checked flag waved for Hamlin. Johnson followed in second. Although Johnson missed first, he gained enough points in second to maintain his lead in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, capturing a total of 6,098 points. The podium was completed with Montoya, who is at fifth in the standings. Martin, Johnson?s greatest challenger at second overall, finished in eighth place and saw the gap between first and second widen substantially, to 118 points.

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