The luck of the Irish prevailed in the opening round of the 2026 Formula Drift Championship. Conor Shanahan clinched top honors to continue the Emerald Isle’s dominance in the sport. This weekend, the drifters set up in Atlanta for the Road to the Championship, with James Deane topping the pre-event odds. The Irishman suffered a surprise early exit on the Streets of Long Beach and is desperate to get his title defence back on track. Dive into the best bets ahead of round two action in our event preview below.
Looking to elevate the thrill of the Formula Drift Road to Atlanta? Place your bets with ease and confidence using our partner sportsbooks.
Formula Drift betting hasn't launched in Virginia yet.
Schedule and How to Watch Formula Drift Road Atlanta
Drifters move to the East Coast this weekend for round two of the 2026 Formula Drift series. Drivers buckle up to contest the Road to the Championship at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta circuit, from Thursday, May 7 to Saturday, May 9. The Pro bracket set off for qualifying on Thursday evening and will only return to the track on Saturday, 4:30 pm ET, for the Top 32 showdown. Track the drifters as they battle it out in Georgia, live on Formula Dacross the three days.
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 Atlanta
Event Winner Odds
The legend that is James Deane fell short on the West Coast, slipping to a Top 16 exit against Diego Higa. Despite the result, punters still believe the Irishman is the one to beat in Atlanta, possibly boosted by his status as defending champion at this venue. His compatriot Conor Shanahan is worth a look after his brilliance in the season opener. He clinched top honors in Long Beach, beating the experienced hand of Fredric Aasbo in the Final Battle.
The Norwegian closed out his visit last year in second place, falling short against Deane. Jack Shanahan, the older brother of Conor, delivered a strong first-round run, driving away in third. He now boasts a win and a Final 4 appearance in his last two FD events. Further down the odds sheet, Cole Richards presents an interesting opportunity at +4617. He drifted his way into the Final 4 in Long Beach, exiting against the youngest Shanahan.
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Driver
Winner Odds
$20 Payout
James Deane
+225
$65.00
Fredric Aasbo
+740
$168.00
Aurimas Bakchis
+789
$177.80
Conor Shanahan
+973
$214.60
Matt Field
+1226
$265.20
Ryan Tuerck
+1244
$268.80
Jack Shanahan
+1262
$272.40
Adam LZ
+2168
$453.60
Branden Sorensen
+2209
$461.80
Simen Olsen
+2406
$501.20
Chris Forsberg
+2458
$511.60
Ken Gushi
+2725
$565.00
Diego Higa
+2850
$590.00
Jhonnattan Castro
+2958
$611.60
Wataru Masuyama
+3075
$635.00
Dylan Hughes
+3085
$637.00
Rome Charpentier
+3200
$660.00
Jeff Jones
+3900
$800.00
Cole Richards
+4617
$943.40
Vaughn Gittin
+5028
$1,025.60
Connor O`Sullivan
+5614
$1,142.80
Derek Madison
+7837
$1,587.40
Nate Chen
+7837
$1,587.40
Trenton Beechum
+7900
$1,600.00
Dan Stuke
+7900
$1,600.00
Ben Hobson
+7900
$1,600.00
Tommy Lemaire
+7900
$1,600.00
Ryan Litteral
+7900
$1,600.00
Dan Burkett
+7900
$1,600.00
Andy Hateley
+7900
$1,600.00
Rudy Hansen
+7900
$1,600.00
Federico Sceriffo
+7900
$1,600.00
Cody Buchanan
+7900
$1,600.00
Expert Pick
James Deane let us down in the first round. He looked tough to beat heading into Long Beach, but the result has prompted us to change tactics this weekend. We’ve locked our focus onto the oldest Shanahan brother. Jack lines up at +1262 for the win, potentially paying out $272.40 on a $20.00 wager.
H2H Odds
Fredric Aasbo takes on James Deane in our pick of the matchups in Atlanta. Aasbo stands out at +165, despite progressing further than Deane in the first round. Aasbo reached the final, which is three rounds more than the reigning series champion managed. Sticking with value for money, Conor Shanahan arrives as the underdog against Aurimas Bakchis, even though he won in Long Beach. Bakchis, on the other hand, reached the Great 8 before Jack Shanahan showed him the door.
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Matchup
Moneyline
Payout on $20
Fredric Aasbo
+165
$53.00
James Deane
-225
$28.89
Aurimas Bakchis
-128
$35.63
Conor Shanahan
-103
$39.42
Matt Field
-116
$37.24
Ryan Tuerck
-114
$37.54
Where to Bet on Formula Drift Road to the Championship
Looking to throw down some action on Formula Drift Atlanta? 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.
Formula Drift betting hasn't launched in Virginia yet.
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Best Bets: 2026 Formula Drift Road Atlanta Pre-Event Odds Analysis
The luck of the Irish prevailed in the opening round of the 2026 Formula Drift Championship. Conor Shanahan clinched top honors to continue the Emerald Isle’s dominance in the sport. This weekend, the drifters set up in Atlanta for the Road to the Championship, with James Deane topping the pre-event odds. The Irishman suffered a surprise early exit on the Streets of Long Beach and is desperate to get his title defence back on track. Dive into the best bets ahead of round two action in our event preview below.
Looking to elevate the thrill of the Formula Drift Road to Atlanta? Place your bets with ease and confidence using our partner sportsbooks.
Schedule and How to Watch Formula Drift Road Atlanta
Drifters move to the East Coast this weekend for round two of the 2026 Formula Drift series. Drivers buckle up to contest the Road to the Championship at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta circuit, from Thursday, May 7 to Saturday, May 9. The Pro bracket set off for qualifying on Thursday evening and will only return to the track on Saturday, 4:30 pm ET, for the Top 32 showdown. Track the drifters as they battle it out in Georgia, live on Formula D across the three days.
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 Atlanta
Event Winner Odds
The legend that is James Deane fell short on the West Coast, slipping to a Top 16 exit against Diego Higa. Despite the result, punters still believe the Irishman is the one to beat in Atlanta, possibly boosted by his status as defending champion at this venue. His compatriot Conor Shanahan is worth a look after his brilliance in the season opener. He clinched top honors in Long Beach, beating the experienced hand of Fredric Aasbo in the Final Battle.
The Norwegian closed out his visit last year in second place, falling short against Deane. Jack Shanahan, the older brother of Conor, delivered a strong first-round run, driving away in third. He now boasts a win and a Final 4 appearance in his last two FD events. Further down the odds sheet, Cole Richards presents an interesting opportunity at +4617. He drifted his way into the Final 4 in Long Beach, exiting against the youngest Shanahan.
swipe to see more
Expert Pick
James Deane let us down in the first round. He looked tough to beat heading into Long Beach, but the result has prompted us to change tactics this weekend. We’ve locked our focus onto the oldest Shanahan brother. Jack lines up at +1262 for the win, potentially paying out $272.40 on a $20.00 wager.
H2H Odds
Fredric Aasbo takes on James Deane in our pick of the matchups in Atlanta. Aasbo stands out at +165, despite progressing further than Deane in the first round. Aasbo reached the final, which is three rounds more than the reigning series champion managed. Sticking with value for money, Conor Shanahan arrives as the underdog against Aurimas Bakchis, even though he won in Long Beach. Bakchis, on the other hand, reached the Great 8 before Jack Shanahan showed him the door.
swipe to see more
Where to Bet on Formula Drift Road to the Championship
Looking to throw down some action on Formula Drift Atlanta? 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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