NASCAR betting fans: We’re back with another fantastic race this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as 43 of the best drivers in the world look to make for great Brickyard 400 picks!

2011 Brickyard 400 Odds, Picks & Info
2011 Brickyard 400 Date: Sunday, July 31st, 2011
2011 Brickyard 400 Green Flag Time: 1:19 ET
2011 Brickyard 400 Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN
2011 Brickyard 400 Favorite: Jimmie Johnson (+625)
Defending Brickyard 400 Champion: Jamie McMurray
2011 Brickyard 400 TV Coverage – Network: ESPN

Over the course of the last five years, this has been the time of year that Jimmie Johnson (Current Brickyard 400 Odds: 6.25 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) has really started to get going on his march towards the Sprint Cup Championship. Of the drivers that are going to be in this field, there are only a few that have made it to Victory Lane here, and only Jeff Gordon have won the Brickyard 400 more times than Johnson has. The No. 48 has already won this race three times. The problem with Johnson is that he has been either hit or miss at the Brickyard, winning three times in nine races but only posting one Top 10 finish in his other six runs.

List Of Past Brickyard 400 Champions (Since 2000)
2010 Brickyard 400 Winner: Jamie McMurray
2009 Brickyard 400 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2008 Brickyard 400 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2007 Brickyard 400 Winner: Tony Stewart
2006 Brickyard 400 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2005 Brickyard 400 Winner: Tony Stewart
2004 Brickyard 400 Winner: Jeff Gordon
2003 Brickyard 400 Winner: Kevin Harvick
2002 Brickyard 400 Winner: Bill Elliott
2001 Brickyard 400 Winner: Jeff Gordon
2000 Brickyard 400 Winner: Bobby Labonte

Kevin Harvick (Brickyard 400 Lines: 12 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) is one of these drivers that has won a race at the Brickyard in his victory in 2003. We’re tending to get a better price right now on Harvick because he hasn’t run that well of late, but we think that he can turn things around. Harvick finished 21st two weeks ago at the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, and the week off probably did him some good. What we can’t forget about Harvick is that he already has three wins this year, and he does have a great history here at Indy, averaging a Top 10 finish, two things that hardly any driver can say. No one else in the field can say both items. Definitely a great price on the NASCAR betting lines this week.

This is going to be the second time in the last month or so that we are going to back Joey Logano (Odds to Win the Brickyard 400: 35 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). Logano makes for a very, very interesting set of NASCAR picks this week, as he is running significantly better now than he was at the start of the year. Logano is getting back in the race for the Chase for the Championship, and his second career victory will make all the difference as we wind down towards NASCAR’s version of the playoffs. He only has two runs here at the Brickyard, one of which ended in a Top 10 finish, but the good news is that the No. 20 Home Depot machine that he is driving was brought to Victory Lane twice before by Tony Stewart.

Brickyard 400 Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/27/11):
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Jimmie Johnson 6.25 to 1
Carl Edwards 7.50 to 1
Tony Stewart 9.50 to 1
Kyle Busch 9.50 to 1
Jeff Gordon 9.50 to 1
Kurt Busch 9.50 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 10.50 to 1
Matt Kenseth 12 to 1
Kevin Harvick 12 to 1
Denny Hamlin 12 to 1
Greg Biffle 16 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 27 to 1
Kasey Kahne 27 to 1
Clint Bowyer 27 to 1
Ryan Newman 38 to 1
Brad Keselowski 38 to 1
Joey Logano 38 to 1
Jeff Burton 43 to 1
Mark Martin 43 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 43 to 1
David Reutimann 43 to 1
David Ragan 43 to 1

Brickyard 400 Odds @ JustBet Sportsbook (as of 7/27/11):
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Jimmie Johnson 6 to 1
Carl Edwards 7 to 1
Tony Stewart 9 to 1
Kyle Busch 9 to 1
Matt Kenseth 11 to 1
Denny Hamlin 11 to 1
Jeff Gordon 11 to 1
Kurt Busch 12 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 12 to 1
Greg Biffle 15 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 25 to 1
Kasey Kahne 25 to 1
Clint Bowyer 25 to 1
Ryan Newman 35 to 1
Brad Keselowski 35 to 1
Joey Logano 35 to 1
Jeff Burton 40 to 1
Mark Martin 40 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 40 to 1
David Reutimann 40 to 1
David Ragan 40 to 1
Field 25 to 1

NASCAR betting fans: We’re back with another fantastic race this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, as 43 of the best drivers in the world look to make for great Lenox Industrial Tools 301 picks!

2011 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Odds, Picks & Info
2011 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Date: Sunday, July 17th, 2011
2011 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Green Flag Time: 1:16 ET
2011 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH
2011 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Favorite: Jimmie Johnson (+575)
Defending Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Champion: Jimmie Johnson
2011 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 TV Coverage – Network: TNT

When you look back at the history of most of the races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, you see a lot of the best drivers in the sport, and you see a ton of chalk that is holding up in these outings. That’s why the man of the hour on Sunday afternoon for your NASCAR picks is clearly going to be Jimmie Johnson (Current Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Odds: 5.75 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). Johnson is not just the defending champion of this event, but he also won it in 2003 before he busted onto the scene as a five time Sprint Cup champ. This is the time of year that the No. 48 Chevy usually kicks it into high gear, and we tend to believe that last week’s strong run at Kentucky Speedway at the Quaker State 400 is going to be just the bump that Johnson needs to really become the prime contender once again on the odds to win the Sprint Cup.

List Of Past Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Champions (Since 2000)
2010 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2009 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Joey Logano
2008 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Kurt Busch
2007 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Denny Hamlin
2006 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Kyle Busch
2005 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Tony Stewart
2004 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Kurt Busch
2003 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2002 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Ward Burton
2001 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Dale Jarrett
2000 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Winner: Tony Stewart

Things have been awfully disappointing for Denny Hamlin (Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Lines: 6 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) of late. He hasn’t had a Top 10 finish in three straight races, and he hasn’t had a good run on a non-road race since the STP 400 at the outset of June. Still, Hamlin knows what it takes to win here at New Hampshire, having done so in 2007, and he has always run well around this circuit and on the short tracks. In his career, Hamlin has 10 starts in Loudon, accounting for seven Top 10 finishes. He’s got that one win under his belt, and he has an average finishing position of 7.6. With the rest of the Chase for the Championship contenders sneaking up on him, the man in 10th position in the Sprint Cup standings needs a big time boost, and this might be just what the doctor ordered.

Continuing with the theory of the chalk, our third Lenox Industrial Tools 301 pick is going to be on Kyle Busch (Odds to Win the Lenox Industrial Tools 301: 8.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). If you had the two Busch brothers on a duel ticket, you’d have three wins in this race just since 2004. Brother Kurt has already visited Victory Lane in this race twice, but this seems to be the time that Kyle might be able to steal glory. Both of these drivers have been red hot and both would make for great Lenox Industrial Tools 301 predictions, but we’re sticking with the man driving the Toyota to carry us to Victory Lane.

Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/13/11):
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Jimmie Johnson 5.75 to 1
Denny Hamlin 6 to 1
Kevin Harvick 8.50 to 1
Jeff Gordon 8.50 to 1
Kyle Busch 11 to 1
Carl Edwards 11.50 to 1
Tony Stewart 12.50 to 1
Matt Kenseth 20 to 1
Clint Bowyer 20 to 1
Greg Biffle 22 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 22 to 1
Jeff Burton 33 to 1
Ryan Newman 43 to 1
Kasey Kahne 43 to 1
Mark Martin 43 to 1
David Reutimann 43 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 43 to 1
Jamie McMurray 50 to 1
Joey Logano 50 to 1
Brad Keselowski 50 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 50 to 1
David Ragan 55 to 1

Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Odds @ JustBet Sportsbook (as of 7/13/11):
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Denny Hamlin 5.50 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 5.50 to 1
Kevin Harvick 8 to 1
Jeff Gordon 8 to 1
Kyle Busch 8 to 1
Kurt Busch 10 to 1
Carl Edwards 11 to 1
Tony Stewart 11 to 1
Matt Kenseth 18 to 1
Clint Bowyer 18 to 1
Greg Biffle 20 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 20 to 1
Jeff Burton 30 to 1
Ryan Newman 40 to 1
Kasey Kahne 40 to 1
Mark Martin 40 to 1
David Reutimann 40 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 40 to 1
Jamie McMurray 45 to 1
Joey Logano 45 to 1
Brad Keselowski 45 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 45 to 1
David Ragan 50 to 1
Field 25 to 1

NASCAR betting fans: We’re back with another fantastic race this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, as 43 of the best drivers in the world look to make for great Quaker State 400 picks!

2011 Quaker State 400 Odds, Picks & Info
2011 Quaker State 400 Date: Saturday, July 9th, 2011
2011 Quaker State 400 Green Flag Time: 7:46 ET
2011 Quaker State 400 Location: Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, KY
2011 Quaker State 400 Favorite: Carl Edwards (+800)
Defending Quaker State 400 Champion: First Race
2011 Quaker State 400 TV Coverage – Network: TNT

Expert NASCAR handicappers everywhere are going to have a tough time getting their Quaker State 400 picks right this weekend because there is just no history to go off of at this track. This is the first ever Sprint Cup race in Sparta, and though the 1.5 mile tri-oval does look a heck of a lot like a ton of other tracks on the NASCAR circuit, every track has its quirks, and this one will be no exception. That being said, there have been Nationwide Series races here, and the last three winners of the Save the Children 300 that have been run at Kentucky Speedway have all been Joey Logano (Current Quaker State 400 Odds: 30 to 1 at JustBet Sportsbook). Whether this truly gives the youngster that much of a leg up in this race or not is still to be determined, especially since it is so difficult to like a driver that probably isn’t even going to make the Chase for the Championship this year. Still, Logano has shown some spunk in his career, and he definitely is on the hot seat in that No. 20 Home Depot car, so he really would love to be able to perform at Sparta to help keep his ride intact for next season.

Of course, we all have to keep a really close eye on the points leader, Carl Edwards (Quaker State 400 Lines: 8 to 1 at JustBet Sportsbook). We know that the No. 99 has really become a threat this year, and in relatively unfamiliar territory, we do think for a change that he is ready to jump out of his shell and pick up another win even though it has been quite some time since he has been to Victory Lane (the NASCAR Sprint Cup All Star Race notwithstanding). Edwards is consistently at the front of the field though, and we know that his time will come once again to claim glory en route to what could be his first Sprint Cup title.

One driver that has done a ton of testing here at Sparta is Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Odds to Win the Quaker State 400: 17 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). We continue to ask when the day will come when Little E will make it back to Victory Lane after a three year absence, but there is definitely a more pressing question involving him right now. Earnhardt has dropped to No. 7 in the Sprint Cup standings right now, and though he does have a healthy 61 point cushion on the safety zone, we know that any given race can change everything. Earnhardt Jr. definitely cannot afford a terrible run here on Saturday night, and with all of the testing that his No. 88 team has done at this track over the years, he could be at a definite advantage going forward in this race.

Quaker State 400 Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/7/11):
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Carl Edwards 6 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 8.50 to 1
Kyle Busch 8.50 to 1
Kurt Busch 10 to 1
Matt Kenseth 10 to 1
Greg Biffle 10 to 1
Denny Hamlin 11 to 1
Kevin Harvick 11 to 1
Tony Stewart 13 to 1
Jeff Gordon 13 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 17 to 1
Clint Bowyer 22 to 1
Kasey Kahne 22 to 1
Joey Logano 28 to 1
Ryan Newman 33 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 33 to 1
Jeff Burton 33 to 1
Mark Martin 33 to 1
David Ragan 45 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 45 to 1
David Reutimann 45 to 1
Jamie McMurray 45 to 1
Brian Vickers 45 to 1

Quaker State 400 Odds @ JustBet Sportsbook (as of 7/7/11):
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Carl Edwards 8 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 8 to 1
Kyle Busch 8 to 1
Kurt Busch 9 to 1
Denny Hamlin 10 to 1
Kevin Harvick 10 to 1
Tony Stewart 12 to 1
Jeff Gordon 12 to 1
Matt Kenseth 12 to 1
Greg Biffle 12 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 15 to 1
Clint Bowyer 20 to 1
Kasey Kahne 20 to 1
Joey Logano 30 to 1
Ryan Newman 30 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 30 to 1
Jeff Burton 30 to 1
Mark Martin 30 to 1
David Ragan 40 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 40 to 1
David Reutimann 40 to 1
Jamie McMurray 40 to 1
Brian Vickers 40 to 1
Field 20 to 1

NASCAR betting fans: We’re back with another fantastic race this weekend at infamous Poconos Raceway, as 43 of the best drivers in the world look to make for great 5-Hour Energy 500 picks!

2011 5-Hour Energy 500 Odds, Picks & Info
2011 5-Hour Energy 500 Date: Sunday, June 12th, 2011
2011 5-Hour Energy 500 Green Flag Time: 1:18 ET
2011 5-Hour Energy 500 Location: Poconos Speedway, Long Pond, PA
2011 5-Hour Energy 500 Favorite: Denny Hamlin (+450)
Defending 5-Hour Energy 500 Champion: Denny Hamlin
2011 5-Hour Energy 500 TV Coverage – Network: TNT

Normally, when it looks like a fish and it smells like a fish, it’s probably pretty darn fishy. On one glance, it doesn’t seem like there is any way in which Denny Hamlin (Current 5-Hour Energy 500 Odds: 4.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) should be the favorite of this race. After all, he ranks just No. 11 in the Sprint Cup standings coming into this week, and he only has two Top 5 finishes all season long. However, we need to dig a little bit deeper. The “Tricky Triangle” always provides us with some great moments in NASCAR betting action, as there are generally very few cautions and the racing is wide open. For whatever reason, Hamlin has really excelled in this type of race. He won this race last year, and he has four wins in his 10 races here in the Poconos… not to mention seven Top 5s and nine Top 10s. Needless to say, it would be quite shocking if Hamlin didn’t end up at least competing for the duration of this race.

Many expert NASCAR handicappers are forecasting a good day for Tony Stewart (5-Hour Energy 500 Lines: 9.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) as well. Stewart only has one Top 5 finish this year as well (not including the Sprint Cup All Star Race), but he too, has a great history here on the “Tricky Triangle.” Stewart has a win here in 2009, and it was his first as a driver/owner. Dating back to his days in the No. 20 Home Depot Pontiac, Stewart has finished in the Top 10 nine times in his last 10 races. Needless to say, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in this one.

Carl Edwards (Odds to Win the 5-Hour Energy 500: 6.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) is always a threat to win these types of races, as the fewer cautions and fewer accidents there are in the race, the more dangerous that the No. 99 Ford is. Of course we know that the man that is just behind him in the points race, Jimmie Johnson (Current 5-Hour Energy 500 Odds: 7.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) will be a threat as well, and both of these drivers are, as always, ones that you are going to want to keep an eye on.

5-Hour Energy 500 Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 6/9/11):
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Denny Hamlin 4.50 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 6.50 to 1
Carl Edwards 7.50 to 1
Kyle Busch 9.50 to 1
Tony Stewart 9.50 to 1
Kevin Harvick 11.50 to 1
Matt Kenseth 12.50 to 1
Jeff Gordon 13.50 to 1
Greg Biffle 14.75 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 14.75 to 1
Kurt Busch 25 to 1
Clint Bowyer 28 to 1
Jeff Burton 33 to 1
Kasey Kahne 33 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 40 to 1
Joey Logano 42 to 1
Mark Martin 42 to 1
Ryan Newman 42 to 1
Brian Vickers 42 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 42 to 1
Jamie McMurray 42 to 1
David Reutimann 55 to 1

2011 5-Hour Energy 500 Odds @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook (as of 6/9/11):
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Denny Hamlin 4 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 5 to 1
Carl Edwards 7 to 1
Kyle Busch 10 to 1
Tony Stewart 10 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 12 to 1
Jeff Gordon 12 to 1
Kevin Harvick 12 to 1
Matt Kenseth 15 to 1
Greg Biffle 15 to 1
Clint Bowyer 25 to 1
Kurt Busch 25 to 1
Kasey Kahne 30 to 1
Brian Vickers 40 to 1
Ryan Newman 40 to 1
Jamie McMurray 40 to 1
Jeff Burton 40 to 1
Joey Logano 40 to 1
Mark Martin 40 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 40 to 1
David Ragan 40 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 40 to 1
Brad Keselowski 50 to 1
Marcus Ambrose 50 to 1
David Reutimann 50 to 1
AJ Allmendinger 60 to 1
Paul Menard 75 to 1
Regan Smith 100 to 1
Bobby Labonte 500 to 1
Field (Any Other Driver) 200 to 1

NASCAR betting fans: We’re back with another fantastic race this weekend at infamous Charlotte Motor Speedway, as 43 of the best drivers in the world look to make for great STP 400 picks!

2011 STP 400 Odds, Picks & Info
2011 STP 400 Date: Sunday, June 5th, 2011
2011 STP 400 Green Flag Time: 1:15 ET
2011 STP 400 Location: Kansas Speedway ,Kansas City, KS
2011 STP 400 Favorite: Carl Edwards & Jimmie Johnson (+550)
Defending STP 400 Champion: Inaugural Race
2011 STP 400 TV Coverage – Network: Fox

Kansas Speedway hasn’t been open for all that many years, but there are definitely some trends that we can fall back upon when looking at the STP 400 odds even though this is the first June race on the calendar at this racetrack. The man that won the most recent race here in the Sunflower State is Greg Biffle (Current STP 400 Odds: 8.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). Biffle not only won the lone race in Kansas last year, but he is also one of the three men that have ever won here more than once. For whatever reason, Biffle just seems to run well at this track, and he is definitely not one to overlook come Sunday’s big time race.

If there is a Toyota driver that is going to become the first to ever take the checkered flag on this racetrack in this one, it is Kyle Busch (STP 400 Lines: 8.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). Granted, we know that Busch really had a tough run last week at the Coca-Cola 600, and all things considered, he really did have a terrible two weeks at Charlotte Motor Speedway if you want to count in the NASCAR Sprint All Star Race. Still, Busch is clearly the top Toyota driver in the field, and he is awfully close to locking up a spot in NASCAR’s edition of the playoffs this year as well. Busch has some great odds, and he very well could be the one to pave the way to Victory Lane in the inaugural STP 400.

Carl Edwards (Odds to Win the STP 400: 5.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) really didn’t have a great week at Charlotte last week, but at least he did leave Tobacco Road with a cool million bucks under his belt for his run at the All Star Race two weeks ago. The driver of the No. 99 Chevy knows that he has himself one heck of a lead in the Sprint Cup standings, and in all likelihood, no one is going to catch him in the regular season. Still, we know that the whole world is trying to get back on top, and there are a number of the elite drivers in this world, just like Edwards, who have never ultimately won titles in spite of the fact that they have had great careers. Edwards won’t want to take any chances going into the Chase for the Sprint Cup of not having that de facto “pole position” for the postseason.

The co-favorite with Edwards is seemingly a favorite each and every week. Jimmie Johnson (Current STP 400 Odds: 5.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) could once again be a factor in this one. However, there are definitely some issues to consider. He does have a win here at Kansas Speedway, unlike Edwards, but aside from that, he really hasn’t run all that well here. Johnson is also clearly going to be gunned at for the rest of the season, as everyone tries to get a leg up on him going into the Chase. This might not be the best time to invest in the No. 48 Chevy, especially now that he has dropped down to the third position in the Sprint Cup standings coming into this week’s race.

STP 400 Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 6/2/11):
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Carl Edwards 5.50 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 5.50 to 1
Kyle Busch 8.50 to 1
Matt Kenseth 8.50 to 1
Greg Biffle 8.50 to 1
Denny Hamlin 11 to 1
Kevin Harvick 11 to 1
Tony Stewart 13 to 1
Jeff Gordon 14.50 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 20.50 to 1
Clint Bowyer 22 to 1
Kasey Kahne 22 to 1
Kurt Busch 28 to 1
Jeff Burton 28 to 1
Joey Logano 28 to 1
Mark Martin 38 to 1
David Ragan 38 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 40 to 1
Marcos Ambrose 55 to 1
Jamie McMurray 55 to 1
Martin Truex 55 to 1
Brian Vickers 55 to 1
David Reutimann 66 to 1
AJ Allmendinger 66 to 1

2011 STP 400 Odds @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook (as of 6/2/11):
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Carl Edwards 4.50 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 3 to 1
Greg Biffle 8 to 1
Kyle Busch 8 to 1
Denny Hamlin 10 to 1
Tony Stewart 10 to 1
Kevin Harvick 10 to 1
Jeff Gordon 12 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 20 to 1
Clint Bowyer 20 to 1
Kasey Kahne 25 to 1
Jeff Burton 30 to 1
Joey Logano 30 to 1
Kurt Busch 30 to 1
Mark Martin 30 to 1
Ryan Newman 40 to 1
Jamie McMurray 40 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 40 to 1
David Ragan 40 to 1
David Reutimann 50 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 50 to 1
Marcos Ambrose 50 to 1
Brian Vickers 50 to 1
AJ Allmendinger 50 to 1
Paul Menard 75 to 1
Regan Smith 100 to 1
Brad Keselowski 100 to 1
Bobby Labonte 100 to 1
Field (Any Other Driver) 100 to 1

NASCAR betting fans: We’re back with another fantastic race this weekend at infamous Talladega Motor Speedway, as 43 of the best drivers in the world look to make for great Aaron’s 499 picks!

The fastest race in the history of NASCAR was run on this track in 1997, as the average speed of the Talladega 500 was a whopping 188.354 MPH. Since then, restrictor plates have been put into the fold, and if the running at the Daytona 500 was any indicator, this should be an absolutely fantastic race.

Chevrolets have really dominated here on the high banks of Alabama, as those drivers have won every race but one here since 1999. In fact, a Ford hasn’t won a race here since 1997, and there isn’t an active Ford driver that has won a race here aside from Mark Martin. That being said, we tend to believe that Chevy’s will continue to dominate. Last year’s winner, Kevin Harvick (Current Aaron’s 499 Odds: 7 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook) is the relatively hefty favorite to win this event. He has been absolutely fantastic all season long, finishing in the Top 10 five times, including posting two wins at the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 and the Auto Club 400.

However, we know that it is only a matter of time until Jimmie Johnson (Aaron’s 499 Lines: 15.50 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook) really kicks it into gear and becomes a tremendous contender again. Now, it’s true that Johnson hasn’t finished worse than 16th in a race since the Daytona 500, and he does have three Top 3 finishes since the first race of the season, but he has yet to take a checkered flag. Johnson knows that he should really do well in this race, having won it in 2006, the first year in which he won a Sprint Cup Championship.

In fact, Johnson and his teammate, Jeff Gordon (Odds to Win the Aaron’s 499: 15.50 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook) combined to win four straight Talladega 500s from 2004 to 2007. Gordon has already taken care of his winless streak, winning at the Subway Fresh Fit 500, but since that point, he really hasn’t done all that well. The Rainbow Warrior knows that he can turn it on at any moment though, and that fifth place finish at the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 might be just what he needs to start to turn the corner again. Qualifying well would help, and he hasn’t started in the Top 20 since March 20th.

One man really hasn’t snapped his horrendous losing streak at this point, and that is Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Current Aaron’s 499 Odds: 11.50 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook). Both Little E and his daddy have a great history here on the high banks of Talladega Motor Speedway. Earnhardt Sr. won this race in 1990, 1994, and 1999, and Earnhardt Jr. took down the title in 2002 and 2003 in back to back seasons, making him one of the few back to back champs of this race. Don’t be surprised if Little E has something up his sleeve for his losing streak that dates back to 2008.

Aaron’s 499 Odds @ Hollywood Sportsbook (as of 4/12/11):
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Kevin Harvick 7 to 1
Tony Stewart 10.50 to 1
Kyle Busch 10.50 to 1
Kurt Busch 11.50 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 11.50 to 1
Carl Edwards 15.50 to 1
Jamie McMurray 15.50 to 1
Clint Bowyer 15.50 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 15.50 to 1
Jeff Gordon 15.50 to 1
Denny Hamlin 15.50 to 1
Jeff Burton 22 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 27 to 1
Matt Kenseth 27 to 1
Greg Biffle 28 to 1
Brian Vickers 33 to 1
Ryan Newman 33 to 1
David Ragan 33 to 1
Kasey Kahne 33 to 1
Joey Logano 33 to 1
Mark Martin 37.50 to 1
Trevor Bayne 43 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 43 to 1
Brad Keselowski 43 to 1
David Reutimann 43 to 1
Paul Menard 43 to 1

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Complete List of 2010 Daytona 500 Odds Can Be Found At The Bottom of This Post

NASCAR will officially kick off the 2010 season with the 52^nd running of the Daytona 500 this Sunday afternoon from Daytona International Speedway. The Daytona 500, known as the Great American Race, is the epic race for the top drivers in NASCAR at possibly the most exciting speedway on earth. 51 year old Mark Martin surprised everyone in 2009 by winning 5 races after coming out of retirement to finish 2nd to Jimmie Johnson in the points standings. Martin is off to another great start after winning the pole for the Daytona 500 and he will lead the field to the green flag this Sunday. Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr will be on the outside of Martin in the number 2 starting spot and will be trying to shake off a disastrous 2009 season. Earnhardt has always run really well at the restrictor plate races and NASCAR’s most popular driver is long overdue for another victory.

The starting positions for the rest of the 43 car field will be determined Thursday in the Gatorade 125 Duel races. The unique aspect of the Daytona 500 is only the front row is locked in on qualifying times. The rest of the cars are split into two groups based on those qualifying times and will run 125 miles to determine the starting positions this Sunday. While qualifying is not a major concern at the restrictor plate races due to the amount of ground a driver can make up easily in the draft, history tells us that a strong starting position goes along way in the Daytona 500. Nearly 90% of all Daytona 500 winners have come from the top 15 starting positions and nearly half of those winners have come from the top 5 starting positions. However, it is still a restrictor plate race and any driver can have a chance. Just ask Brad Keselowski who captured his first victory last year at Talladega, a track similar to Daytona based on the use of restrictor plates, in just his 5^th career start.

One of the big changes involving the Great American Race this year is the change in the size of the restrictor plates. Over the last two seasons, the racing at restrictor plate tracks Talladega and Daytona have suffered in competition. The restrictor plates were keeping the field bunched up and making it chess match to get out front using the draft. However, bigger restrictor plates used this year will not only increase horse power but also increase throttle response for the drivers. This change should put a little more control into the driver’s hands and I believe you will see the premier restrictor plates racers up front this Sunday. Therefore drivers like Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Jeff Gordon should be some of the top picks to win the Daytona 500. In fact, Tony Stewart is the leading favorite to win the Daytona 500 at +700 odds. Stewart has never won the Daytona 500 even though he has proven to be among the best restrictor plate drivers in NASCAR. Stewart did win the July Coke Zero 400 at Daytona last year and has 4 other super speedway wins during his career.

Kyle Busch has also been lights out at the super speedways entering the race as a +800 favorite. Busch and the #18 team do have a new crew chief on board with Dave Rogers. Busch possibly is the most talented driver in NASCAR outside of Jimmie Johnson, but I would not encourage betting on a new team in a race of this magnitude. Speaking of Johnson, he will be starting his run at a 5^th consecutive championship. Johnson already broke all NASCAR record for winning 4 straight championships, but he has not faired too strong in the Daytona 500 despite winning the event in 2006. Johnson will be receiving +1000 odds this Sunday. Outside of the previously mentioned drivers, I would love to touch on a number of other possible contenders this Sunday but that could be everybody. Instead, I have listed a couple of possible bets for you to consider for the Daytona 500 this Sunday that I have listed below.

Driver to win the Daytona 500

I really think this is the year for Tony Stewart to pull off the victory. Stewart has been all too close in recent years and he knows how to stay in front of the pack. Consider he has led each of the last 7 Daytona 500’s including leading the most laps in two of those events and it is easy to see why he is due for the ultimate win in racing. The only downside is that Stewart is listed as the favorite to win the event and it has been 6 years since the last favorite won the Daytona 500 (Dale Earnhardt Jr 2004). However, still with the new rule changes it will benefit the best restrictor plate racers. Dale Earnhardt Jr and Kyle Busch come to mind, but their teams have not been very strong especially compared to Stewart’s. I believe those factors will come together and crown Stewart the winner of the Daytona 500 this Sunday.

Pick – Tony Stewart (8 to 1 @ Oddsmaker)

Long shot to win the Daytona 500

 There are a couple drivers that deserve a lot of attention due to their lack of respect from the line makers. Kevin Harvick just won his 2^nd straight Budweiser Shootout last week not to mention he is a previous Daytona 500 Champion and is receiving very profitable +1500 odds. Another driver I think should deserve some attention is Jamie McMurray. McMurray took over the #1 Bass Pro Shops machine this year and looked very strong in the Shootout last week. Not to mention former Dale Earnhardt Inc cars have always run well at the super speedways even though they are now a merger making Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. Still, McMurray should be a driver to consider at +2200 odds. However, the driver I like is an even bigger dark horse. Brian Vickers had a great season in 2009 making the Chase over Kyle Busch by just 19 points. Vickers first career victory come at Talladega, another super speedway, and he was another driver that stayed at the front during the Budweiser Shootout. Vickers ran up front at both Daytona and Talladega in 2009 scoring 2 top 10 victories despite some trouble in the Daytona 500. However, I believe he is a guy that is going to hang around the front this Sunday and if he hangs around long enough he just might drive into victory lane. Plus to put some icing on this long shot, consider incredible +3500 odds if that predictions happens to come true.

Pick – Brian Vickers (30 to 1 @ Oddsmaker)

Duel 1 Race Match-Up

Mark Martin vs. Jimmie Johnson

One thing that was apparent from the start of practice last Thursday is that Mark Martin had the fastest car in the field. He came out and topped the charts in his first two laps and did the same during his two lap qualifying run. His position may already be locked in, but that will not stop him from trying to win the Gatorade 125. Starting out front, Martin already has the advantage not to mention again the fastest car. Plus Jimmie Johnson did not appear all too comfortable with the handling on this #48 Lowes Chevrolet. Expect the old man to get the job done.

Pick – Mark Martin

Duel 2 Race Match-Up

 Kasey Kahne vs. Martin Truex Jr.

 Neither of these two drivers is expected to be dominating forces at Daytona this weekend, but both have the talent to contend. Kasey Kahne finished 2^nd at the Amp Energy 500 at Talladega last season after scoring a top 15 at the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona. Also, Richard Petty Motorsports has made some solid strides to getting back to a competitive level. However, Michael Waltrip Racing who owns the car that Martin Truex Jr will be driving has not shown that type of strength. In fact, all the MWR cars appeared a bit underpowered last week including Michael Waltrip who has always run well at Daytona considering he is the only driver to have 2 Daytona 500 victories in the last decade. I expect Truex and company to struggle in this event and Kahne to have another solid run.

Pick – Kahne

Current & Latest Odds To Win The Daytona 500 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook:
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Kyle Busch +800
Denny Hamlin +1200
Jimmie Johnson +1000
Dale Earnhardt Jr +800
Juan Pablo Montoya +1500
Carl Edwards +1500
Ryan Newman +2500
Jamie McMurray +2500
Martin Truex Jr +3000
Brian Vickers +3000
Kasey Kahne +2500
Greg Biffle +4000
Marcos Ambrose +5000
AJ Allmendinger +5000
Casey Mears +6000
Bobby Labonte +6000
Scott Speed +10000
Tony Stewart +800
Jeff Gordon +1000
Mark Martin +800
Kurt Busch +1200
Kevin Harvick +1200
Matt Kenseth +2000
Clint Bowyer +3000
David Ragan +3000
Joey Logano +2500
Jeff Burton +3000
David Reutimann +4000
Brad Keselowski +3000
Sam Hornish Jr +5000
Michael Waltrip +5000
Elliott Sadler +6000
Paul Menard +10000
Field (Any Other Driver) +3000