We're fresh into the 2021 season and NASCAR betting odds remain extremely tight.
NASCAR championship odds have been changing throughout the season's first three races, which included an underdog victory in a wild opener to kick things off.
The usual favorites are bunched up at the top, including last year's winner Chase Elliott. Let's dive into the NASCAR odds to win the NASCAR Cup Series and see who the current leaders are.
Favorites to win 2021 NASCAR Cup Series
Elliott remains at the top of the odds board as a +600 betting favorite, but he's now in a three-way tie with Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin.
The 25-year-old Elliott, who won five races in 2020 to claim the NASCAR Cup Series title, placed second at the season-opening Daytona 500 behind surprise winner Michael McDowell. Elliott followed that up by finishing a disappointing 21st at the O'Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona race, and then came 14th at last week's Dixie Vodka 400.
Harvick has back-to-back Top-5 finishes, placing fifth at the Dixie Vodka 400 and fourth the week before that. Though he hasn't secured a win yet, he's been a model of consistency, with his worst result being a sixth-place finish at the Daytona 500. He had a NASCAR Cup Series-leading nine victories last year.
Hamlin, meanwhile, recorded two Top-5 finishes to start the new season before coming in 11th at last week's Homestead-Miami Speedway race.
Another three-way tie at +700 odds follows, a group that's highlighted by Martin Truex Jr. - the favorite for the upcoming Pennzoil 400.
NASCAR Cup Series odds
| Driver | Odds to win NASCAR Cup Series (as of March 2) |
|---|---|
| Chase Elliott | +600 |
| Kevin Harvick | +600 |
| Denny Hamlin |
+600 |
| Kyle Busch | +700 |
| Joey Logano | +700 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +700 |
| Brad Keselowski | +800 |
| Kyle Larson | +1,200 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1,200 |
| William Byron | +2,000 |
| Alex Bowman | +2,500 |
| Christopher Bell | +2,800 |
| Kurt Busch | +3,300 |
| Aric Almirola | +4,000 |
| Austin Dillon | +5,000 |
| Bubba Wallace | +5,000 |
| Matt DiBenedetto | +6,600 |
| Cole Custer | +8,000 |
| Erik Jones | +8,000 |
| Ryan Newman | +10,000 |
| Tyler Reddick | +10,000 |
| Chase Briscoe | +10,000 |
| Ross Chastain | +15,000 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | +20,000 |
| Chris Buescher | +25,000 |
| Michael McDowell | +30,000 |
| Daniel Suarez | +50,000 |
| Ryan Preece | +75,000 |
| Brennan Poole | +75,000 |
| Corey Lajoie | +75,000 |
Odds courtesy of bet365.
How to bet on NASCAR futures odds
The most popular way to bet NASCAR futures is by simply picking the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series which is awarded at the end of the NASCAR playoffs. The champion is crowned via a points system based on the final race results of each driver.
With a field of more than 40 drivers, NASCAR Cup Series Championship odds can pay out very well even if you wager on favorites. For bettors that want to increase their chances of winning, some sportsbooks even offer NASCAR futures odds on finishing in the Top 3 at the end of the Cup Series.
For more information on NASCAR betting check out our How to Bet NASCAR page.
Where can I bet on the NASCAR Cup Series?
As the top car racing competition in the United States, most online sportsbooks and casinos offer odds to win the NASCAR Cup Series. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live.
