The NASCAR season is one that encompasses nine months out of the year, so it’s understandable that fans of the sport are always on the lookout for ways to enhance the Sunday afternoon viewing experience. Fortunately, like the other major sports, Fantasy NASCAR is widely played and there are plenty of leagues and games available for you to enjoy. While there are plenty of free games available, this post will be focusing on the ones that you have to pay to play–and, if you have a good enough season, win some money when the Sprint Cup champion is crowned in November.
There are essentially two basic types of Fantasy NASCAR leagues available: those that you have to enter a new roster for every race, and those that you enter your roster before the season starts and stick with that roster for the year (with maybe one or two changes allowed). From there, the variations between the games are endless, and they all have their positives and negatives.
The Top Fantasy NASCAR Games to Consider in 2016
The Showcase at Fantasy Racing Online
- $6,000 in prizes up for grabs, including $1,000 to 1st Place (overall), $50 weekly prizes, and $100 segment prizes
- Construct a roster of 5 drivers each week, no caps or limits to deal with. You also designate an “All Star Driver,” who earns double the points as usual (making this game truly one of a kind). Points are awarded based on finishing position with bonus points for wins, poles, most laps led, and other factors
- Each team’s 4 lowest scores of the season aren’t counted, so you can afford to have some bad weeks
- Entry fee: $60 per team (less than $2 per race!)
- Click here to sign up now!
Salary Cap Challenge at Fantasy Racing Online
- Your typical Fantasy NASCAR pool game, where prize amounts are determined by number of entries. In 2015, total prizes were over $3,800
- Construct a roster of 8 Sprint Cup cars by staying at or below an established salary cap
- All scores from the 36 points-paying races count. Points are awarded based on finishing position with bonus points for wins, poles, most laps led, and other factors
- Entry fee: $30 per team (less than $1 per race!)
- Click here to sign up now!
Fantasy NASCAR 4×4 at Fantasy Racing Online
- Brand new for 2016, this game will really test your planning and strategy. Prizes are determined by number of entries
- Each team picks 4 drivers to have for the entire season. However, there’s a catch: you have to choose which 4 races those drivers will score points for you at, and it has to be decided before the season starts
- The 4 drivers on each team will score points for that team but only in the 4 races the team owner chooses. Points are awarded based on finishing position with bonus points for wins, poles, most laps led, and other factors
- Entry fee: $15 per team (less than 50 cents per race!)
- Click here to sign up now!
- One of the most popular FREE Fantasy NASCAR games on the internet
- Each team chooses a roster of 8 drivers per week and “starts” 4 of them. You can only use each driver 9 times throughout the entire season and you earn points based on finishing position and laps led (as well as bonus points for starting position)
- This another FREE game offered by FOX
- Each team constructs a roster of 5 drivers by staying within or below a salary cap. Driver values change throughout the season and you earn points based on finishing positions, laps led, and finish differential
- There is a pay-to-play league available. It is $20 per team and all entry fees are returned as prizes. This private league is managed by our own Blossom & Waterslager, click here for more information
- The official NASCAR.com Fantasy NASCAR game, and it is FREE to play
- Each team constructs a roster of 5 drivers by staying within or below a salary cap. Driver values change throughout the season and you earn points based on finishing positions, laps led, fastest laps, finishing differential, and a few other factors
- There is a pay-to-play league available. It is $40 per team and the top 6 placing teams win prizes. This private league is not affiliated with Fantasy Racing Online and is managed by Michael Brand. UPDATE: This NASCAR.com Fantasy Live league is now full.
