Richard Childress Racing (RCR) became the first NASCAR racing team to form a partnership with a sports betting brand when it announced this past week it designated BetMGM as its official sports betting operator.
“BetMGM is at the forefront of the sports betting and online gaming industry and Richard Childress Racing can certainly relate to their pioneering vision,” Richard Childress, RCR chairman and CEO, said in a press release. “This innovative relationship will provide opportunities to collaborate in new and groundbreaking ways.”
The announcement came ahead of this weekend’s Dayton 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. While sports betting remains illegal in Florida, the industry’s presence will certainly be noticed.
Branding should be on RCR cars at start line
According to the release, RCR fans should see BetMGM branding on both the team’s Chevrolet cars this weekend: Austin Dillon‘s No. 3 and Tyler Reddick‘s No. 8.
Mock-ups of the No. 8 car on RCR’s website indicate the BetMGM logo will be located between the driver’s side rear wheel well and the bumper, underneath a Cheddar’s logo and to the right of a logo from construction equipment firm Cat.
In addition to car branding, BetMGM and RCR will collaborate on a number of “marketing and activation assets, including primary sponsorship for select races during the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series.”
Matt Prevost, chief revenue officer for BetMGM, said the partnership can create “compelling” possibilities.
“Richard Childress Racing is one of the most respected and formidable teams in motorsports. Together we will develop compelling marketing opportunities and activations that introduce the BetMGM sports betting brand to NASCAR fans worldwide.”
The partnership comes less than a year after NASCAR and BetMGM announced a multi-year sports betting partnership.
RCR drivers up against long odds
While sports betting isn’t legal in Florida, Sunshine State residents can place bets in-person in Biloxi, Mississippi, or make mobile bets anywhere in Tennessee.
Tennessee’s BetMGM platform indicates the odds aren’t looking good for RCR racers this weekend:
- Austin Dillon: +2500
- Tyler Reddick: +4000
Dillon sits at +650 to finish in the top three and +150 to place in the top 10. Reddick, meanwhile, carries +1000 odds to finish in the top three but sits at +200 to crack the top 10.
Though Dillon’s odds of winning are fairly long, he’s no stranger to the checkered flag at Daytona International Speedway. He won the 2018 Daytona 500 in one of the more memorable last-lap surges.
