There’s nothing like NASCAR action. A win or top-10 bet is alive until the last lap. DraftKings Sportsbook has a variety of betting options that will intensify the entertainment of stock car racing. Here are the best bets for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville.
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Race Winner — Cook Out 400
Austin Cindric +2800
The Cup Series is a level playing field. Long shots are no longer just a superspeedway phenomenon, and the betting books haven’t adjusted. That oversight cost them at Phoenix when Josh Berry (+2800)—a strong contender at Martinsville—pulled off a win. Talent still makes a difference. Kyle Larson (+500) is arguably the best racer on the planet. But how much does talent matter in a series with similar equipment and a format that constantly resets the field? Take last week’s Xfinity Series race at Homestead as a perfect example. Larson was on pace to lap the entire field until a late-race caution bunched everyone up. His car got slammed on the final restart, and he lost. It’s NASCAR—chaos happens. The long odds aren’t long enough.
Austin Cindric shouldn’t be considered a long shot. He’s proven himself at Martinsville in both the Cup Series and Xfinity Series. His crew chief, Brian Wilson, knows how to set up a car for this track, and Team Penske has a strong history of Martinsville wins. Why bet on his more proven teammates instead? Cindric has the skills to shine here.
Last fall, NASCAR debuted the softest tire in the sport’s history at Martinsville, making tire management critical. That’s no easy task on a half-mile flat track, but Cindric handled it masterfully. When measuring his lap times and accounting for variables, he showed the least tire degradation of anyone—a remarkable feat considering he had to charge from the back to the front twice. His fourth-place finish wasn’t a win, but it could have been if not for a pit road penalty.
Austin Dillon +11000
This pick relies on luck. All of Austin “Ace” Dillon’s Cup Series wins have depended on it. It’s NASCAR—wrecks happen, and racing is no stranger to chance. If Ace plays his cards right, he could turn a strong hand into four aces. But this isn’t entirely a Hail Mary. Dillon performs well at Martinsville; he scored a top-10 there last fall. He also won at Richmond—another short, flat track—last fall.
Ryan Preece +3000
Pre-practice, the push is for Preece. The odds are long before practice and qualifying, making it a great time to lock in the best value—though this might not hold true for Preece after those sessions. The RFK Fords tend to race better than they practice, and Preece has been outshining his RFK teammates. Earlier this season, he used smart strategy to earn a top-10 driver rating at Phoenix. In his last four Martinsville races, he’s notched four top-20 finishes, even without the best equipment. He was in contention for the win during the 2023 spring race, but a penalty derailed his chances. Preece will need a touch of luck, and luck is a real factor—Denny Hamlin himself admits the fastest car only wins about 30% of the time.
