The NASCAR season is a long one: spanning from February to November and encompassing 36 total points-paying races (with a few others along the way). And while a couple of those races races can tend to end up on the boring side, there’s a very easy way to make them more entertaining: Fantasy NASCAR.
In the Fantasy NASCAR world, there are plenty of games offered by some of the “big name” companies; Yahoo! Fantasy Auto Racing is one of the most popular on the internet, as well as FOX’s Fantasy Auto contest. NASCAR.com also offers their Fantasy Live game, although the popularity and competitiveness of that contest has dwindled since they took away the ‘pay to play’ aspect–and thus big cash prizes.
And that’s the problem. Many of the ‘big games’ are very fun and competitive, but what a lot of fantasy racers are looking for is to compete for cash prizes. There are many cash Fantasy NASCAR leagues available all over the internet, but which ones can you trust? Luckily for you, I have compiled a list of the best pay-to-play Fantasy NASCAR cash leagues, most of which I personally play in each season.
The Best 2017 Fantasy NASCAR Games with Cash Prizes
Leagues that allow you to pick a new team each week
The Showcase at Fantasy Racing Online – This year is the 7th running of The Showcase with over $6,000 in guaranteed cash prizes. Top prize is $1,000 with the weekly high score winning $75. For a signup fee of less than $2 per race, you select a team of 5 drivers each week and earn points based on their performance. Points are given many statistics, including laps led, +/- place differential, and finish in the stages as well as the overall race. Additionally, drivers are given handicap points each week depending on their recent performance and history at the track. Just $60 to play all year and a chance at some big money. Click here for more information.
Fantasy NASCAR Racin by Chris Townley – This is a small league (limited to 60 teams) but with some great competition. You have a 1 in 5 chance of winning money each race, and there is also prizes awarded for the top teams at the end of the season. With this contest, each week you select a certain number of drivers from four different groups to make up your team. Add in a whole bunch of NASCAR history on the website and a commish who loves the sport and it’s a whole lot of fun for just $86 for the entire season. Click here for more information.
FOX Fantasy Auto Cash Game – Annie & Michael Wright run a great game using the FOX Fantasy Auto game where it’s all about making the Chase. There is some great competition in their private league and it’s only $20 for the entire season. The private group name is The FRO Group and the password is friends . You can email Annie & Michael for more information at the17carwins@gmail.com
Pick Six Fantasy Racing – Do you remember the old salary cap game at NASCAR.com, where each team’s salary cap would increase or decrease each week depending on how their team did? This was and still is my absolute favorite Fantasy NASCAR format, and the guys at Pick Six have recreated it perfectly. This game requires, in my opinion, more skill and strategy than other games, but it is one of the best. Please contact Robert Boldrini or Robert Griese via email at picksixcommish@gmail.com
Pork Cup by Mark Silva – Most Fantasy NASCAR games allow you to make your weekly pick selections up until the green flag, but the Pork Cup takes that away and you have to enter your team before practice and qualifying. This definitely adds a nice twist and makes you read up on the upcoming race a little earlier. You pick five drivers per race and they can be any driver. It’s $75 for the entire season of Pork Cup action and either the top 5 or top 10 finishers get paid cash depending on total number of entries. If you’re interested, contact Mark Silva for more information at porkcupracing@hotmail.com
Legends of Nascar – This fantasy league piggybacks off of the NASCAR.com Fantasy Live game and is limited to the first 30 teams who sign up. The top 9 finishing teams get paid cash prizes with $350 going to the winner. The Legends of Nascar league is ran by Michael Branch, and you can get more information on the league by clicking here. To contact Michael and reserve your spot, click here.
Same roster or minimal trades all season
Salary Cap Challenge at Fantasy Racing Online – With a record 249 teams last season, our Salary Cap Challenge paid out over $6,000 prizes–and we hope to at least hit that many teams once again this year. This is a somewhat standard Fantasy NASCAR pool, where each team puts together an 8-car roster to use all season (although you are allowed 2 trades in the first 18 weeks). There’s one big thing that makes this game different, though: each team designates one of their cars as the “All Star Car,” which costs double the salary but earns double the points each week. Can you put together the best team? It’s only $30 per team to join, and the top 20 at the end of the season receive cash prizes. Click here for more information.
Fantasy NASCAR 4×4 at Fantasy Racing Online – Honestly, this might be one of the most unique Fantasy NASCAR contests out there, but at the same time it’s very simple. Each team selects 4 drivers and 4 races before the season starts. Your team scores points based on the performance of those 4 drivers, but only during those 4 races. Strategy really comes into play here. It’s only $15 per team to enter, so why not try it out? Click here for more information.
SVFD Race Pool – The Shrewsbury Volunteer Fire Department Annual Race Pool always gathers a bunch of entrants and this year’s champion is taking home a cool $4,000 in cash. This is a standard Fantasy NASCAR pool that requires each team to pick 8 drivers while staying under a salary cap. The $40 entry fee is also tax deductible! Click here for more information.
FantasyGames4U – The FantasyGames4U entry list is quite large, too, as this site paid out over $50,000 in prizes in 2016. This is also a standard pool contest with no trades during the season–you are stuck with the same roster from beginning to finish. It is $25 to join in on the FantasyGames4U fun and you can get more information by clicking here.
Fantasy NASCAR Pool – This is another well-run Fantasy NASCAR pool, and last season the top team took home $3,500. The entry fee is just $17 (or $20 Canadian) for the entire season, so it’s well worth looking into this contest. I’m not sure how long this league has been around but it is well established. Click here for more information.
Sports Fantasy Leagues – With nearly $10,000 in guaranteed prizes and just $50 to enter, the NASCAR game at Sports Fantasy Leagues is one you should definitely look into. Each team selects a roster of 12 drivers from 5 predetermined groups to carry for the season. You aren’t locked into that roster, though: if you’d like to make changes, you can do so for $2 per change.
jordan.i played last year ….is it too late to enter now. i sure hope i can…..i mainly like “the showcase.” i can entet my 3 teams tomorrow morning before noon chicago time….thanks so much, i know you must be
Richard,
Yep! I’m accepting entries on all games right up until the day of the Daytona 500. Just go under “Register Your Teams” above and sign up for which games you’d like.