A union between Richard Childress Racing and BetMGM could be the type of partnership you see more often at future NASCAR races.
Officials on Wednesday announced Richard Childress Racing and BetMGM have inked a deal to unveil the first NASCAR racecar that’s fully branded by a sports betting operator.
You’ll soon see the BetMGM in action, including an upcoming NASCAR Spring Cup Series race on the Virginia-Tennessee border.
But don’t be surprised if you see the logos for other sportsbooks circling NASCAR tracks in the future.
BetMGM Car Debuts at Pennzoil 400
RCR signed a multi-faceted partnership with BetMGM, according to the announcement, though details weren’t disclosed. BetMGM is now the “official sports betting operator” of the North Carolina-based race team.
With the deal, BetMGM-RCR becomes the first partnership between a NASCAR team and sports betting operator. They’ll also put the first racecar that’s fully branded by a sports betting operator on a NASCAR track.
RCR driver Austin Dillon will pilot RCR’s No. 3 Chevrolet with BetMGM’s familiar black and gold this weekend:
Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 takes place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and it airs on Fox at 3:30 p.m.
Then, on March 28, you can see with black-and-gold car scheme close to home. Tyler Reddick‘s No. 8 Chevrolet will feature the BetMGM logos at the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The racetrack on the VA-TN border will feature a dirt surface for the first time in Cup Series history.
However, BetMGM probably won’t be the only sportsbook to score a NASCAR deal. As with similarly sized leagues such as the PGA, UFC, and the WNBA, NASCAR executives have seen engagement in the sport increase due to the proliferation of legal sports betting. Expect both the leagues and the sportsbooks to strengthen those ties in the years to come.
Denny Hamlin a Favorite at Pennzoil 400
BetMGM has posted odds for the Pennzoil 400. Not surprisingly, Virginia native Denny Hamlin is again a favorite.
Hamlin, who’s currently leading the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series standings, is available at +900 odds to win Sunday’s 267-lap, 400.5-mile race. With those odds, if you bet $10 on Hamlin to win and he takes the checkered flag, you’ll get $90 in profit.
Martin Truex Jr. is the favorite at +600 odds. Joey Logano, who won the race last year, is available at +650.
Virginia driver Quin Houff, who finished 35th in last week’s race, faces long odds at +150000 to win on Sunday. However, later in the week, BetMGM should have more realistic options available, including Houff to finish in the top 10.
BetMGM will also have odds for Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 300 in Las Vegas. The NASCAR Xfinity Series race airs on FS1 at 4:30 p.m.
However, some other VA sports betting apps already have odds on the race, including those for Virginia drivers. Jeb Burton, who’s No. 4 in the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series standings, is available at +5000 odds at DraftKings, William Hill Sports Betting, and BetRivers Sportsbook.
Additionally, Brandon Brown, who’s No. 9 in a surprisingly strong early season, is +75000 at William Hill. Gray Gaulding, who had a season-best 21st finish on the Daytona Road Course, is +100000, also at William Hill.
