So I've always wanted to place some wagers on NASCAR races but I digress. What this is all about is what happened with the last race. If you follow NASCAR you will likely know what I am talking about. Today it was announced that a competitor spun his car purposely to affect the outcome of the race. Now NASCAR has ruled and assessed penalties that have changed the outcome of the race. My question is what would happen to those who had bet one way or the other. Suppose I bet on the outcome that didn't happen but has now happened due to the changes NASCAR made today? What would happen to those that won but now have actually lost. Things that make me go hmmmmmmm.
What happened... In the closing laps of Saturday night's race, Ryan Newman was winning and it didn't look as if anyone was close enough to catch him. If he were to win, he would have got a "wild card" spot in the chase (the top ten drivers in points make the chase plus two "wild cards" - drivers with the most wins who aren't in the top ten...overall points is the tiebreaker if two drivers have the same # of wins). Newman and Martin Truex had the same number of wins before this race but Truex was ahead in points. So, if Newman didn't win, Truex would get the wild card spot. If Newman did win, he'd have more victories than Truex and would get the wild card spot. So, with the laps winding down, Clint Bowyer, who is Truex's teammate and had already clinched a spot in the chase received a very suspicious message from is crew chief: "are your arms getting sore?" Then, this professional race car driver - with no cars around him and nothing wrong with his car - spun out. This brought out a caution flag. The drivers came in to get fresh tires. And Newman's crew choked - had a mediocre pit stop - and Carl Edwards beat him off pit road and eventually won the race, giving Truex the final spot in the chase. I can't imagine that these events would have any effect on a bet on the race, though. Truex and Bowyer were penalized 50 points (moving Newman ahead of Truex for the final wild card spot). They were not penalized any spots in the Richmond race (48 points is the most a driver can score in a single race, so penalizing someone 50 points in a race would be impossible). In fact, I don't think NASCAR ever penalizes a driver spots in any particular race (at least not after the fact), just overall points. As a NASCAR fan, I'm very pleased they came down as hard as they did as this is a big black eye for the integrity of the sport. I think it should probably please gamblers that NASCAR won't stand for manipulation as well. Hope that made sense.
I am a huge NASCAR fan too. I guess what I am wondering is what if I had bet on Newman to win. The race ends and Newman didn't win BUT it's because Bowyer did something to affect the outcome. I wonder if I would have a legitimate gripe for a winning ticket or would it revert to well the race wasn't over and Newman could have wrecked, lost a tire or blown an engine. Another thing is what about those who bet on Carl Edwards to win, the spin affected that as well, would the book look for a payback if they could figure out who you were? This is just a curiosity for me. I've never bet on sports but I really want to lay some money down on NASCAR action next trip.
First, if you're a big NASCAR fan - and understand what drivers/teams/manufacturers do well on which tracks - I very much recommend you throwing down a bet or two. I think you'll be surprised at how under (and over) valued some drivers are. I got Kurt Busch at 40-1 for the Atlanta race last weekend. Sure, he didn't win. But he finished 3rd or 4th and had a very legitimate shot in the last few laps. Let me tell you, watching him make that move from like 7th to 2nd was pretty freaking exciting with a potential $4000 win on the line! As far as bets...I think you'd be SOL if you'd have bet on Newman. I don't think NASCAR changes the outcomes of individual races after the fact. (NASCAR's official site still lists Edwards as the winner.) So I can't imagine the books changing things either. I do know that if you'd have bet Edwards, and two days later they changed the results, you'd be fine. How are they going to find the people who bet on him?
NASCAR came down on MWR pretty hard. I show the finish, Newman had the best car at that time before the incident. Hate to see this type of making deals to qualify for contest of any sports.
OK that makes sense to me. I am really wanting to get back to Vegas just to lay some money on Kurt Busch. That guy has a win coming before the season ends for sure.
Right on! NASCAR already has too much of a WWF - type reputation. No need to add to it with this kind of crap. I usually hate those "actions detrimental to the sport" penalties (too much like that shit the NCAA did to Johnny Manziel). But in this case, they had to do something. Kudos to Helton (and his 'stache).
I dunno just how much I like NASCAR doing this now, anyone who has been following NASCAR for some time can probably remember Dale in his 6th or 7th championship.......the one where they brought in Neil Bonnet (RIP) and someone else to start and park because Dale needed to finish 41 or better to clinch the title.
Interesting questions posed here. Does anybody know if any casino book had prop bets as to who at the bottom would make the Chase? If so you have to figure those that had Truex had cashed their tic and are long gone. Those that had Newman to win and/or make the Chase? Wonder how many of those tix went in the trash can?
betting is over and done, NASCAR needs to fix it fast and hope the sponsors and fans stick to sports thats been on decline last few years.
