• This article was first published in February 2024, it has been updated as of January 30, 2025, to address rules as of that date.

The first two races of the NASCAR Cup season will both include drivers who do not make the Main Event. The exhibition Cook Out Clash has 37 entries, the charters, for 23 spots in the main event. The Daytona 500 will have 40 spots. Entry lists are not published for the Daytona 500. However, it is likely that at least 41-42 cars will try to make the race for those 40 spots (in 2025 it will be even more, with potentially as many as 46 entries). For Xfinity races there are 38 spots available for each race. For the Craftsman Truck Series there are 36 spots for each race. This means that if you place a bet before qualifying it is possible that the driver you bet on will not be in the race. So let’s look at how books treat bets on drivers who don’t qualify for the race.

For bets on a driver to win, finish Top 3/5/10, or to be a top manufacturer driver there are three types of rules on how bets on drivers who do not qualify are treated. The most favorable for bettors is that bets on drivers who do not start the race are void and refunded. The second type of rule states that if a driver attempts to qualify the bet is action. This means bets on a driver who tries, but fails to qualify, are losses. Finally, the last type of rule is that all bets placed are action. This means that a bet on a driver will be graded as a loss if the driver never even shows up to the event. As far as I can tell at all books, group bets and head to head bets, require all drives in the group or head to head to start the race for the bet to be action.

The Basic Rules

The three types of rule for when a bet is action seem simple. That said, the house rules of some books can be confusing. So let’s look at how some of the popular books treat bets. I’ll explain which rule I think they follow and highlight the section of the book’s house rules that I think covers the issue. The rules discussed below come from the house rules for VA as of January 30, 2025.

FanDuel

For 2025 FanDuel has its rules for motorsports. The rules are broken down into two sections that cover the issue of when a bet is action. First, Rule 18.1.1 states that “If a driver is not on the grid or ready to start from the pit lane when the signal is given we will void all bets on the selection.” This rule applies to motorsports in general. For NASCAR in particular rule 18.2.1.2 states that “Any drivers who do not qualify for the race will be deemed no action.” So if a driver doesn’t start the race, bets on the driver are void.

In 2024 FanDuel was very clear about this for the Clash and stated that only the 23 drivers who made the final event would be action. That extra statement is missing from 2024, but based on 2024 and the general rules as outlined above, it would seem that if a driver doesn’t start the main event at 8pm on Sunday, bets will be void.

DraftKings

A bet at DraftKings the rule has awkward phrasing. However, at DraftKings, if a driver does not qualify for the race, bets on the driver are void.

Bet365

At Bet365 a bet is action only if the driver qualifies for the race.

Caesars

At Caesars a bet is action once a driver attempts to qualify for a race. For the clash this means once a driver starts a heat race bets are action. For normal races this means when a driver takes to the track to run a qualifying lap.

BetMGM

At MGM bets are action unless are driver does not take part in the race “including qualifying.” As best I can tell this means that if a driver attempts to qualify then bets are action.

BetRivers (and other Kambi Books which include Ballybet)

Bets at Kambi books are always action, assuming the race is run. There is a red herring in the rules for these books. The red herring rule states that a driver who participates in officially-sanctioned practice or qualification session, has participated in the event. The rule continues to say this is true is even if the driver doesn’t participate in the race itself. But this isn’t relevant, as the underlying rule states that “no refunds will apply on those participants who do not take part for any reason….”

ESPN Bet

At ESPN Bet all bets are action, regardless of if the driver participate in any part of the race, which includes qualifying.

So remember, check the rules of the books before you bet and be aware of the different rules for different books.

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