CBS Sports rolls out 2026 motor sports betting guide
The 2026 guide covers F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, sportsbook promos, racing bet types and current NASCAR odds from DraftKings.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
CBS Sports has published a 2026 motor sports betting guide aimed at fans following Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar, with Chinmay Vaidya pointing to rising racing interest driven in part by events such as the Daytona 500 and F1 grand prix weekends.
The guide says the page may include affiliate links, meaning CBS Sports may receive a commission if readers sign up, deposit money or place a wager through those links.
Sportsbook offers highlighted
CBS Sports listed several new-user promotions tied to major betting apps. DraftKings is offering $200 in bonuses after users spend at least $5, while FanDuel is offering up to $1,000 in bet reset tokens after a $5 bet across five days, according to the guide.
The guide says bet365 is offering $150 in bonus bets after a $10 wager, win or lose. BetMGM is offering up to $1,500 in bonus bets if a user’s first bet loses, with the full amount requiring a $1,500 wager. Fanatics is offering a 10-day bet match worth up to $100 per day in FanCash.
Vaidya wrote that bettors should check whether a sportsbook consistently posts racing markets, since some platforms have fewer motor sports options than others. He also noted that comparing prices across books can matter because lines vary.
Prediction markets join the grid
The CBS Sports guide also points to Kalshi and Polymarket as prediction markets with motor sports contracts. CBS Sports described both as federally regulated markets with broad availability in the United States.
Kalshi’s listed offer is a $15 bonus after a first $15 in trades using the promo code CBSSPORTS. Polymarket’s listed offer is $50 in trading credits after a deposit of at least $20, also with the CBSSPORTS promo code.
How racing bets work
The guide explains American odds with a race-winner example: a driver at -150 would require a $150 stake to win $100, while a +200 driver would return $200 profit on a $100 winning bet.
Race weeks vary by series, but CBS Sports says events typically include practice on Thursday or Friday, qualifying on Friday or Saturday, and the race on Sunday. Qualifying results can move the betting market before the main event.
The betting menu described by CBS Sports includes:
- Outright winner bets on a driver, team or constructor.
- Placement bets, such as top-five or top-10 finishes.
- Dual forecast wagers requiring the top two drivers in exact order.
- Each-way bets combining a win bet with a finishing-position bet.
- Stage winner bets, more common in NASCAR and IndyCar.
- Head-to-head matchups between drivers or teams.
- NASCAR group winner and top car make markets.
- Qualifying bets, including pole position and qualifying placement.
Big races and current NASCAR odds
CBS Sports names the Indianapolis 500, traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend, as IndyCar’s premier event. In NASCAR, the guide highlights the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Brickyard 400 as Crown Jewel races.
For F1, the guide calls Monaco the season’s biggest spectacle and also points to Silverstone, Monza, Singapore and Abu Dhabi as major stops. Miami and Las Vegas are also listed among F1’s newer special events.
As of July 17, 2026, CBS Sports listed DraftKings odds for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Window World 450 with Denny Hamlin at +425, Ryan Blaney at +500, Kyle Larson at +500, Christopher Bell at +500, Joey Logano at +1000 and William Byron at +1100.
Vaidya’s betting advice centers on current form, weather, team strategy and how crews adjust during a race. The guide also notes that safety cars can appear after crashes, with race-ending caution rules varying by series and race officials.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.