Eric Uribe
The NASCAR betting postseason begins with a “Round of 16” matchup at the famed Darlington Raceway betting this weekend. With crucial playoff positioning on the line, every lap matters to not only drivers, but bettors, as well. To help you out, we’re offering our NASCAR Darlington playoff picks completely free of charge!
NASCAR betting odds have not been released for the Darlington event by online bookies as of this publish date. That should change as the Sunday race date nears closer. But expect the usual suspects — Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, etc. — to be favored to win the checkered flag.
| Driver |  |  |
| Chase Elliott | TBD | TBD |
| Kyle Larson | TBD | TBD |
| Martin Truex Jr. | TBD | TBD |
| Kyle Busch | TBD | TBD |
| Denny Hamlin | TBD | TBD |
NASCAR Round Of 16 Explained
Before we jump into our betting picks, it will serve you to understand the nuances of the NASCAR postseason. Darlington is race number one of four in the Round of 16 stage. As the stage name indicates, 16 drivers are involved at this point.
The sixteen qualifying drivers had their point totals reset to 2,000 apiece. If they earned playoff points during the regular season, those were tallied after the fact. Points play a crucial factor in the postseason because eliminations are based on that.
No matter what unfolds in Darlington, no eliminations can happen yet. However, there can be automatic qualifications into the Round of 12 playoff stage. That will be reserved for whoever takes first place on Sunday. Speaking of that, here are our predictions on the winners.
NASCAR Darlington Betting Picks
Now that we’re in the playoffs, only the “best of the best” drivers remain in the field. That makes picking a single winner all the more difficult, but after doing the research, there are three drivers we believe are most worthy of a bet. Our advice is to bet with at least two of ’em. It minimizes the risky and unpredictable nature of the sport, but keeps you in the green if one pans out. It’s these three drivers we’re most confident in come Darlington:
Kyle Larson
Larson won the regular-season title with a whopping five wins. Those wins helped him accumulate extra playoff points as he starts with 2,052 — the highest to start the postseason. But beyond his 2021 success, he’s performed consistently well at Darlington Raceway in recent memory.
In seven career starts at Darlington, Larson’s average finish is 6.0. Better yet, in the last five racers there, Larson finished top-three on four different occasions. Sure, he’s winless at Darlington, but the momentum is certainly on Larson’s side.
Martin Truex Jr.
For one, Truex is never a bad bet when it’s playoff time. He’s one of the circuit’s best performers in the postseason as of late. This is where he’s finished the past four years: first, second, second again, and seventh. So Truex definitely has that clutch factor.
But here’s another reason to consider betting Truex. This is actually the second event in Darlington this year. The first? The Goodyear 400 in May, an event that Truex didn’t just win, but one he dominated in. Truex lead for 248 laps in that Darlington victory. That magnitude of that win really lends betting credibility to Truex for this second go-round.
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin is an interesting case study. He finished second to Larson in the regular-season standings despite never winning a single race this season.
But here’s why we think he could buck that trend at Darlington: he has a checkered history at this course. Over his career, Hamlin has won at Darlington three different times. In 18 career starts at the track, his average finish is 7.4. That’s quite the track record, which certainly warrants betting attention from us.
How To Watch NASCAR Darlington
As we’ve alluded to all article long, NASCAR playoffs are different. Not only for the drivers, but for the fans, too. Thrill levels are upped another notch with so much hanging in the balance. It makes for appointment TV viewing, especially if you have action on the event.
If you want to follow Darlington in real-time, here are the full broadcasting details:
- What channel is the Darlington playoff race on? For Americans, the NBC Sports Network will have exclusive rights to air it.
- What time does the Darlington playoff start? The flag goes down at 6 pm EST.
- What day is the Darlington playoff race? Sunday, September 5
How To Bet NASCAR Playoffs
If you want to heed our betting advice — or heck, fade it — then you can do so easily at one of the betting sites listed below. These bookmakers will have every single NASCAR playoff line from Darlington to the finale in Phoenix. That includes not only race-winner bets, but also in-race props.
The NASCAR playoffs are composed of 10 races, which means a lot of betting opportunities. If you need extra money to handle all the action, then consider taking advantage of a sign-up bonus. These lucrative offers are available to first-time players of the site and can dole out as much as $2,500 in free play.
The table underneath has up-to-date details on which bonuses are currently available to new players. If you want to get in on the free money, just hit one of the “play now” buttons below. Earning the bonus is quick and any funds earned can be used on the NASCAR playoffs right away.
