The most popular driver in the state of Illinois is the only black driver to have won at least one race in the sport’s top three national series. That would be 30-year-old Bubba Wallace.
Wallace has two wins and 31 top 10s in his 218-race career across the sport’s three levels. Among his litany of accolades is a first in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville in 2014.
So, it is Wallace in Illinois. What about the other states?
With the NASCAR Cup Series starting this month and the Daytona 500 only 10 days away, auto racing becomes another popular option for Illinois sports betting.
IllinoisBet.com – your source for Illinois online casinos - utilized Google Trends by searching “NASCAR” over the past 12 months (Feb. 7, 2023 – Feb. 7, 2024) to find the most- searched NASCAR driver in every state.
It’s Bubba in Illinois
Illinois was one of five states to choose Wallace as their favorite NASCAR driver, which shows the appeal that the series veteran has across the country.
Here are the five states:
- California
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Missouri
- New York
Any full-time or part-time NASCAR Cup Series driver was included.
Nationally, It’s a Tie for First
Wallace was a popular choice nationally among NASCAR fans, scoring the top pick of the fourth-most states behind Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson (eight each) and Kyle Busch (7 states).
Given his slew of top 10s in 2023 and the financial support he has from team owner Michael Jordan, it seems like 2024 is sure to be a year to remember for Wallace as he looks to notch his first win on NASCAR’s top circuit.
Wallace and Larson are tied for eighth (+1800) at BetMGM Illinois for the Feb. 18 Daytona 500. There is a foursome at the top of the odds board at +1100: Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney and Chris Buescher.
If Wallace can secure a checkered flag this year, it surely would help put a dent in the lead that the three racers ahead of him have in terms of state-by-state popularity.
It’s always wise to have Illinois sportsbook promos at the ready if you are looking to wager on NASCAR, the Super Bowl or any major sports.
