At the onset, NASCAR was founded in 1948. Formally known as the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) remains the most popular form of car racing in the United States. Following the past two decades, NASCAR Betting saw a drop in its popularity, attendance, and TV ratings. But in 2024, the sport began to stabilize and reassert itself with consistent TV ratings. While not up significantly, ratings and attendance were still improved over the previous year. So, too, was the betting handle up from previous years, which portends a big year for 2025.
2025 NASCAR and Daytona 500 At a Glance
| Date: | Season Opens Sunday, February 16, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Racetrack: | Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL |
| Track Length: | 2.5 miles |
| Total Laps: | 200 |
| TV Coverage: | FOX |
| Betting Online Odds at SBG: | Click Here |
NASCAR’s unusual characteristic is having its “Super Bowl” at the start of the season instead of the end. The Daytona 500 is known as the “Great American Race” and draws the biggest TV ratings and betting handle of the year for NASCAR. Now the sport looks to make more gains on the NBA and NHL, of which it has long been competitive.
Last year, William Byron won the biggest offshore bookmaker prize in stock car racing, navigating the No. 24 car through a chaotic final stretch to take the checkered flag. With nine laps to go, Byron was involved in “The Big One.” Teammate Alex Bowman got into his rear, leading to a wiggle that pushed Byron into the right side of Brad Keselowski and forced him to spin. As a result of the wreck, it caught up car after car in the crossfire. Yet when the dust settled, Byron escaped relatively unscathed.
Following a red flag briefly bringing the race to a halt, things restarted with eight laps to go, Byron capitalized on his solid position. While a late wreck nearly pushed the race into overtime, Byron had already taken the white flag before the caution came out, sealing his first victory in the Daytona 500.
In 2024, Joey Logano rose to the occasion. Specifically, the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang Dark Horse made the race-winning pass on fellow championship contender William Byron on the final restart of the race. Despite a late-race scare from his Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, Logano was able to hang on to score the race win. Hence, it was his third career NASCAR Cup Series championship.
In sum, the 2024 season will show Logano finishing the season with the least top-fives (7) and top-10s (13) that he’s put up since his 2012 NASCAR Cup Series campaign. Correlate that was where he registered just two top-fives and 12 top-10s.
Regardless of how bad the season appeared for the majority of the regular season, Logano worked his way into the Playoffs. Caused by an unexpected five-overtime win at Nashville Superspeedway.
Next, Logano won at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Round of 16 to advance to the Round of 12. It took a NASCAR Betting disqualification of Alex Bowman in the final race of the Round of 12 for Logano to advance to the Round of 8. And then in the Round of 8, Logano won the opening race of the round at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Finally, Logano, who scored his 36th career win at Phoenix Raceway, is one of just 10 drivers to win three Bill France Cups.