Speedway

Speedway & Short-Track Oval Betting Guide 2026

RacingOnline.com has a direct connection to American short-track oval racing. From 1998 to 2013, this site was the official web presence for a network of Wisconsin and Midwest short tracks — Thunder Hill Speedway, Luxemburg Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway, Elko Speedway, Wisconsin International Raceway, and others. That editorial history informs this hub page, which covers the ARCA Menards Series (the primary betting-eligible short-track series in the US) and FIM Motorcycle Speedway for the European audience.

ARCA Menards Series — Betting Guide 2026

The ARCA Menards Series is owned by NASCAR (acquired 2018) and runs 20 races at 19 tracks in 2026, broadcast on FOX, FS1, and FS2. The season runs from Daytona in February through to Kansas for the championship finale in September. ARCA is a development series — first-season professionals race alongside veteran short-track specialists, creating volatile form and loose bookmaker lines compared to NASCAR Cup.

Why ARCA Betting Lines Are Softer Than NASCAR

ARCA runs as a NASCAR companion race on many weekends. Casual bettors price ARCA like NASCAR — assuming similar form stability and driver consistency. In reality, ARCA fields include young drivers in their first full professional season alongside experienced regional racers. Form volatility is significantly higher than in any NASCAR national series. This creates pricing inefficiencies for bettors who track ARCA-specific practice times, qualifying results, and regional short-track form rather than relying on name recognition.

The defending 2025 champion Brenden Queen did not return for 2026, leaving an open championship across the 20-race season.

2026 ARCA Short-Track Events

ARCA Betting Operators

DraftKings is the primary US operator for ARCA betting — deepest markets and most consistent race-day availability. FanDuel covers selected ARCA events, particularly those running as NASCAR companion races. Offshore, BetOnline and BetUS offer ARCA markets. Note that ARCA betting markets are thin compared to NASCAR Cup — most platforms offer race-day markets only, with limited futures or prop availability.

Madison International Speedway — The Badger 200

Madison International Speedway is a half-mile paved oval in Oregon, Wisconsin (near Madison). Opened in 1969 as Capital Super Speedway by Sam Bartus, it is known as ‘Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile’ and ‘The Track of Champions.’ The track features 18-degree banked turns and currently runs as a NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series venue.

ARCA at Madison — History and 2026

ARCA first raced at Madison in July 1970 (won by Ramo Stott), returned in 1971 (Tom Bowsher) and 1973 (Bruce Gould), then had a 40-year gap before returning in 2011. That 2011 return race was won by Alex Bowman — now a NASCAR Cup Series driver. ARCA visited Madison annually from 2011 to 2019, missed 2020–2024 due to COVID and schedule changes, and returned in August 2025 with the Badger 200. The 2026 ARCA schedule confirms an August return.

The Badger 200 runs 200 laps over 100 miles. Betting is available via DraftKings and FanDuel on race day. Notable Madison alumni include Dick Trickle (2x champion 1971–72), Matt Kenseth (1994 track champion, later NASCAR Cup champion), Mark Martin, Chris Buescher (2012 ARCA winner), and Alex Bowman (2011 ARCA winner).

Elko Speedway — ARCA Menards Series 2026

Elko Speedway is a 3/8-mile paved oval in Elko New Market, Scott County, Minnesota, south of Minneapolis. It is one of the premier short tracks in the Upper Midwest, hosting Late Models, Super Late Models, and weekly classes alongside the ARCA Menards Series.

The 2026 ARCA event at Elko is confirmed for June. This is a tight, technical track where short-track experience matters more than raw speed — bettors should weight drivers with prior Elko or similar short-track experience over those coming from superspeedway or intermediate-track programmes.

Wisconsin Short-Track Heritage

RacingOnline.com’s original coverage network included some of the most competitive short tracks in the Midwest. These tracks remain active under updated names and continue to run weekly programmes through the May–September season.

Thunder Hill Speedway (now The Hill Raceway)

A 1/3-mile dirt oval in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (Door County area). Historically one of the most competitive short tracks in northeastern Wisconsin. Part of the IMCA Modified circuit. Notable alumni include Benji LaCrosse (2007 Thunder Hill track champion, 2006 IMCA Modified national champion). The track currently operates as The Hill Raceway. Full Thunder Hill track profile →

Luxemburg Speedway (now Luxy Raceway)

A 1/3-mile clay oval in Luxemburg, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, just east of Green Bay. One of the most active short tracks in northeastern Wisconsin with weekly racing May through September. A flagship IMCA Modified track in the Wisconsin region. Classes include IMCA Modified, IMCA Stock Car, IMCA Sport Modified, and economy divisions. Full Luxemburg track profile →

Elko Speedway

A 3/8-mile paved oval in Elko New Market, Minnesota. Hosts ARCA Menards Series events and weekly Late Model/Super Late Model racing. Full Elko track profile →

Short-Track Betting Mechanics

Caution probability: Short tracks produce more cautions than superspeedways or road courses. Close-quarters racing on tracks under half a mile creates frequent contact. Each caution bunches the field and resets track position advantages — live betting position markets are more volatile than at longer tracks.

Qualifying vs race form: At short tracks, qualifying position is less predictive of the race winner than at intermediate ovals. Passing is possible (though difficult), and pit strategy plays a larger role. Back qualifying results with caution for race-winner selections.

Young driver volatility: ARCA fields include drivers as young as 15 in their first professional season. Their form can swing dramatically round-to-round. Books often set prices based on team affiliation or recent results — a single strong qualifying session can shorten a young driver’s odds beyond their true probability. Focus on consistency over 3+ races rather than single-event form.

FIM Motorcycle Speedway

Motorcycle speedway — bikes with no brakes on flat dirt ovals — serves primarily the European and particularly the Polish betting audience. The FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) runs approximately 11 rounds across Europe, with Poland as the dominant nation in the sport.

Bartosz Zmarzlik is a 5-time world champion and the clear market leader in SGP outright betting. The Polish Ekstraliga (top-division club league) has the deepest speedway betting markets globally — deeper than the SGP individual rounds in many cases. The British Speedway Premiership serves the UK domestic audience with an active weekly league.

Speedway Betting Operators

Bet365 UK offers the widest FIM Speedway coverage. BetVictor covers SGP and selected Ekstraliga matches. Betsson serves the Scandinavian market with strong speedway coverage. For Polish Ekstraliga betting, local Polish operators typically offer the deepest markets — international operators cover it but with narrower selections.

Operator Recommendations by Region

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you bet on ARCA races?
Yes. DraftKings and FanDuel both offer ARCA Menards Series betting for selected races, particularly those running as NASCAR companion events. Markets are typically race-day only — futures and prop bets are limited compared to NASCAR Cup.

What is the ARCA Menards Series?
ARCA is a NASCAR-owned development series running 20 races at 19 tracks in 2026. It serves as a stepping stone for young drivers entering professional stock car racing. Notable ARCA alumni who progressed to NASCAR Cup include Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, and Chase Briscoe.

How does short-track betting differ from oval racing at larger tracks?
Short tracks (under half a mile) produce more cautions, more position changes, and less qualifying-to-race correlation than superspeedways or intermediate ovals. Pit strategy and restarts carry more weight. Live betting markets are more volatile due to frequent caution periods.

What is FIM Motorcycle Speedway?
Motorcycle speedway features bikes with no brakes racing on flat dirt ovals. The FIM Speedway Grand Prix is the premier individual world championship, running approximately 11 rounds across Europe. Poland dominates the sport — Bartosz Zmarzlik is a 5-time world champion. The Polish Ekstraliga is the strongest club league globally.

What happened to Thunder Hill Speedway?
Thunder Hill Speedway in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin now operates as The Hill Raceway. It remains an active 1/3-mile dirt oval on the IMCA Modified circuit. RacingOnline.com was the official web presence for Thunder Hill from approximately 1998 to 2013.

What happened to Luxemburg Speedway?
Luxemburg Speedway in Luxemburg, Wisconsin now operates as Luxy Raceway. It continues as one of the most active short tracks in northeastern Wisconsin with weekly racing May through September across IMCA Modified, Stock Car, and Sport Modified divisions.

When is the Bathurst 200 at Madison International Speedway?
The Badger 200 (not Bathurst — that is in Australia) at Madison International Speedway is scheduled for August 2026 as part of the ARCA Menards Series calendar. It runs 200 laps over 100 miles on the half-mile paved oval.

Is Elko Speedway on the ARCA schedule in 2026?
Yes. Elko Speedway in Elko New Market, Minnesota is confirmed on the 2026 ARCA Menards Series schedule for June. It is a 3/8-mile paved oval and one of the premier short tracks in the Upper Midwest.