Engines are roaring, and drivers are pulling into Southern California to initiate the 2026 Formula Drift season. The first of eight rounds hits the streets of Long Beach this weekend as competitors look to grab the upper hand early on in the season. Drifting royalty, James Deane, arrives fresh off his fifth Championship title, and leads the pre-event odds, ahead of 2025 opening round winner, Frederic Aasbo. Discover the best bets and picks for the opener in our event preview below.
Looking to elevate the thrill of the Formula Drift Streets of Long Beach? Place your bets with ease and confidence using our partner sportsbooks.
Schedule and How to Watch Formula Drift Long Beach
After six months away from the track, it’s time for Formula Drift drivers to transition to competition mode. First up are the streets of Long Beach, which host the drifters for two days, starting on Friday, April 10. Qualifying is scheduled for the evening on opening day, as racers vie for a spot in the main competition on Saturday. The Top 16 hits the asphalt at 3:00 pm PT on April 11 and runs through to 6:00 pm local time. Catch the first contest of 2026 live on Formula D, as James Deane looks to start his title defence on a high.
Odds Subject to Change
Please note, the odds provided herein reflect the raw probability odds for this analysis and are based on the information available at the time of publishing. Different sportsbooks may adjust these odds based on market conditions, bettor behaviors, and other factors that could influence the betting landscape. For a deeper understanding of why odds for alternative sports betting change and how it might affect your betting strategy, we encourage you to read our detailed article: Why Do Alternative Sports Betting Odds Change? Make informed decisions and always check the latest odds with your sportsbook before placing bets.
Best Bets and Odds for Formula Drift Streets of Long Beach
Event Winner Odds
As expected, the five-time Formula Drift Champion, James Deane, tops the odds sheet leading into the first round of 2026. The Irishman clinched three trophies last season, making him the winningest drifter in the competition. He was also the only competitor to win multiple events. Deane’s closest rival for most of the previous season, Fredric Aasbo, returns to Long Beach to defend his crown. The Norwegian appeared in three Final Battles in 2025, but took top honors once.
Moving down the odds sheet, we find Matt Field, who was strong in the closing stages of last season. He entered two finals in the ultimate three rounds, winning once, in Seattle. Another gentleman who ended the past campaign on a high note was Jack Shanahan. Consistency was a challenge for the Irish rookie, but he won at Long Beach 2 and ended runner-up in St. Louis. Closing out our best bets is Adam LZ, who starts as a longshot at +2079. He entered Victory Lane in Englishtown in 2025, his only appearance in a Final Battle during that term.
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Driver
Winner Odds
$20 Payout
James Deane
+262
$72.40
Fredric Aasbo
+548
$129.60
Aurimas Bakchis
+717
$163.40
Jack Shanahan
+1184
$256.80
Matt Field
+1194
$258.80
Ryan Tuerck
+1194
$258.80
Conor Shanahan
+1337
$287.40
Adam LZ
+2079
$435.80
Branden Sorensen
+2236
$467.20
Simen Olsen
+2369
$493.80
Jhonnattan Castro
+2497
$519.40
Chris Forsberg
+2504
$520.80
Wataru Masuyama
+2532
$526.40
Rome Charpentier
+2967
$613.40
Cole Richards
+2967
$613.40
Ken Gushi
+2986
$617.20
Dylan Hughes
+3222
$664.40
Nate Chen
+3645
$749.00
Jeff Jones
+3746
$769.20
Cody Buchanan
+3746
$769.20
Connor O`sullivan
+4286
$877.20
Vaughn Gittin
+5055
$1,031.00
Tommy Lemaire
+6992
$1,418.40
Ben Hobson
+7043
$1,428.60
Ryan Litteral
+7043
$1,428.60
Dan Burkett
+7043
$1,428.60
Derek Madison
+7043
$1,428.60
Trenton Beechum
+7146
$1,449.20
Daniel Stuke
+7146
$1,449.20
Rudy Hansen
+7146
$1,449.20
Andy Hateley
+7146
$1,449.20
Diego Higa
+7146
$1,449.20
Federico Sceriffo
+7146
$1,449.20
Expert Pick
We can’t look past James Deane for our expert pick leading into California. The Irishman has clinched the last two Championships and won seven out of 16 rounds since 2024. He lost out to Aasbo on this track last year, but took top honors in 2024. Deane is the overwhelming favorite to bag the opening round, priced at +262. A $20.00 bet on the Irishman could payout $72.40.
H2H Odds
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Matchup
Moneyline
Payout on $20
Matt Field
-118
$36.95
Ryan Tuerck
-113
$37.70
Fredric Aasbo
+128
$45.60
James Deane
-171
$31.70
Aurimas Bakchis
-140
$34.29
Jack Shanahan
+105
$41.00
2026 Formula Drift Futures Odds
James Deane, the most successful driver in Formula Drift, starts the campaign as the short odds favorite. He took the Championship by 90 points in 2025 and by over 100 points the prior season. Fredric Aasbo enters the campaign with fair odds of +452. But, based on last season, he never really reached a level required to trouble Deane, beyond his opening round victory in California.
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Driver
Futures Odds
$20 Payout
James Deane
-109
$38.35
Fredric Aasbo
+452
$110.40
Aurimas Bakchis
+655
$151.00
Jack Shanahan
+1095
$239.00
Ryan Tuerck
+1225
$265.00
Matt Field
+1299
$279.80
Conor Shanahan
+1654
$350.80
Cole Richards
+2188
$457.60
Chris Forsberg
+2204
$460.80
Adam LZ
+2717
$563.40
Dylan Hughes
+3523
$724.60
Simen Olsen
+3932
$806.40
Branden Sorensen
+4286
$877.20
Ken Gushi
+5335
$1,087.00
Rome Charpentier
+5888
$1,197.60
Jhonnattan Castro
+5998
$1,219.60
Nate Chen
+7043
$1,428.60
Connor O`sullivan
+8097
$1,639.40
Cody Buchanan
+9246
$1,869.20
Wataru Masuyama
+9704
$1,960.80
Vaughn Gittin
+9801
$1,980.20
Ryan Litteral
+9801
$1,980.20
Federico Sceriffo
+9801
$1,980.20
Where to Bet on Formula Drift Long Beach
Looking to throw down some action on Formula Drift Long Beach? Place your bets with ease and confidence using our partner sportsbooks. For detailed insights, strategies, and tips to maximize your betting experience, make sure to check out the official NXTbets Formula Drift Betting Guide. With real-time odds and expert insights at your fingertips, making informed bets on the action-packed event has never been simpler.
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Best Bets: 2026 Formula Drift Long Beach Round 1 Pre-Event Odds Analysis
Engines are roaring, and drivers are pulling into Southern California to initiate the 2026 Formula Drift season. The first of eight rounds hits the streets of Long Beach this weekend as competitors look to grab the upper hand early on in the season. Drifting royalty, James Deane, arrives fresh off his fifth Championship title, and leads the pre-event odds, ahead of 2025 opening round winner, Frederic Aasbo. Discover the best bets and picks for the opener in our event preview below.
Looking to elevate the thrill of the Formula Drift Streets of Long Beach? Place your bets with ease and confidence using our partner sportsbooks.
Schedule and How to Watch Formula Drift Long Beach
After six months away from the track, it’s time for Formula Drift drivers to transition to competition mode. First up are the streets of Long Beach, which host the drifters for two days, starting on Friday, April 10. Qualifying is scheduled for the evening on opening day, as racers vie for a spot in the main competition on Saturday. The Top 16 hits the asphalt at 3:00 pm PT on April 11 and runs through to 6:00 pm local time. Catch the first contest of 2026 live on Formula D, as James Deane looks to start his title defence on a high.
Odds Subject to Change
Please note, the odds provided herein reflect the raw probability odds for this analysis and are based on the information available at the time of publishing. Different sportsbooks may adjust these odds based on market conditions, bettor behaviors, and other factors that could influence the betting landscape. For a deeper understanding of why odds for alternative sports betting change and how it might affect your betting strategy, we encourage you to read our detailed article: Why Do Alternative Sports Betting Odds Change? Make informed decisions and always check the latest odds with your sportsbook before placing bets.
Best Bets and Odds for Formula Drift Streets of Long Beach
Event Winner Odds
As expected, the five-time Formula Drift Champion, James Deane, tops the odds sheet leading into the first round of 2026. The Irishman clinched three trophies last season, making him the winningest drifter in the competition. He was also the only competitor to win multiple events. Deane’s closest rival for most of the previous season, Fredric Aasbo, returns to Long Beach to defend his crown. The Norwegian appeared in three Final Battles in 2025, but took top honors once.
Moving down the odds sheet, we find Matt Field, who was strong in the closing stages of last season. He entered two finals in the ultimate three rounds, winning once, in Seattle. Another gentleman who ended the past campaign on a high note was Jack Shanahan. Consistency was a challenge for the Irish rookie, but he won at Long Beach 2 and ended runner-up in St. Louis. Closing out our best bets is Adam LZ, who starts as a longshot at +2079. He entered Victory Lane in Englishtown in 2025, his only appearance in a Final Battle during that term.
swipe to see more
Expert Pick
We can’t look past James Deane for our expert pick leading into California. The Irishman has clinched the last two Championships and won seven out of 16 rounds since 2024. He lost out to Aasbo on this track last year, but took top honors in 2024. Deane is the overwhelming favorite to bag the opening round, priced at +262. A $20.00 bet on the Irishman could payout $72.40.
H2H Odds
swipe to see more
2026 Formula Drift Futures Odds
James Deane, the most successful driver in Formula Drift, starts the campaign as the short odds favorite. He took the Championship by 90 points in 2025 and by over 100 points the prior season. Fredric Aasbo enters the campaign with fair odds of +452. But, based on last season, he never really reached a level required to trouble Deane, beyond his opening round victory in California.
swipe to see more
Where to Bet on Formula Drift Long Beach
Looking to throw down some action on Formula Drift Long Beach? Place your bets with ease and confidence using our partner sportsbooks. For detailed insights, strategies, and tips to maximize your betting experience, make sure to check out the official NXTbets Formula Drift Betting Guide. With real-time odds and expert insights at your fingertips, making informed bets on the action-packed event has never been simpler.
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