Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell & Kyle Larson Warn NASCAR Amid Legal Hurdles: “We’re Missing Out on a Really Big Opportunity Here”

The legalization of betting on US sports arguably paved the way for different sports to engage their audience more deeply in the game. NASCAR also tapped into the huge opportunity to bring in new fans into the sport after sports betting was first legalized in 2018. Since the move, the sport has seen a gradual rise in terms of viewership and finances as well. With the growing craze of sports betting in the country, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Larson gave NASCAR a warning about losing a massive opportunity amid legal roadblocks.

NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Larson recently talked about the growing influence of sports betting in NASCAR. Further, the trio laid out their thoughts on the relationship between sports betting and NASCAR, and how the initiative could be a big opportunity for the racing sport to tap into a new generation of fans.

Kyle Busch & Larson provide insight into NASCAR sports betting

In the recent edition of the NASCAR LIVE podcast, Kyle Busch reckoned that sports betting in NASCAR is a ‘big deal’ and has grown substantially over the last few years. Moreover, the two-time Cup Series champ chimed in on the diversity of the betting options while pointing out that fans could do more than just bet on who would win the race or a championship.

Further, while comparing the betting scenes in NASCAR with Super Bowl, Kyle Busch said, “So, sports betting for NASCAR has certainly gotten bigger over the years and it’s very intriguing for a lot of those who are good on the gambling front, being able to win money and more power to them.”

While talking about how sports betting had the potential of shaping NASCAR fandom, Christopher Bell said, “Yeah I mean, I think its, we’re missing out on a really big opportunity there.”

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver revealed that his friends loved to bet on various sports like football and basketball. However, he pointed out a legal hurdle, saying sports betting was still illegal in North Carolina and several other states, which restricted his friends from making bets.

The 28-year-old continued, “So I think there’s a huge opportunity there and it just makes fans way more involved in the sport.”Moreover, speaking from personal experience, Bell shared that playing fantasy football got him more involved in the sport. Hence, he felt that betting on the driver would prompt the fans to tune in and watch the sport with more dedication.

Kyle Larson urges NASCAR to introduce betting at the grassroots

Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports‘ Kyle Larson also talked about how sports betting in NASCAR could be a way to get the younger generation involved in the sport. The 2021 Cup Series champ suggested, “I think it has gotten more younger kids involved in other sports, they probably typically don’t really or weren’t a fan of before and NASCAR will be one of those.”

Additionally, Larson also felt that promoting betting at the foundational level could help encourage the fans to go out to their local race tracks and bet. Larson added, “I think if you can introduce it on the grassroots side, it’s gonna pour into the NASCAR world.”