NASCAR: Double J on top of odds list
by Shawn Sillinger
Jimmie Johnson (+300): Johnson has been at the top of the Cup drivers’ standings for so long, we’ve nearly forgotten about him. That’s partly because he hasn’t won a points race since the Aaron’s 499. But he’s only failed to crack the Top 10 twice since then, a consistent enough performance to keep him clear of the pack. Expect Johnson to kick it up a notch once the Chase for the Cup starts; still, these odds are too short considering Johnson’s lead (if he holds onto it) will shrink to five points once the standings are adjusted. Note as well that Johnson has had a rough go of it at Indy in the past.
Matt Kenseth (+500): Kenseth is holding onto second place in the standings, 97 points behind Johnson and over 200 points clear of the rest of the pack. That’s close enough to pressure Johnson and give Kenseth some incentive to keep pushing for big results – his 10 Top-5 finishes thus far are the most on the Cup circuit. However, Kenseth placed outside of the Top 10 in five of his last six races. Momentum is not likely to be on his side heading into the Chase.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (+700): Oh, Dale. After climbing all the way up to third in the Cup standings, Earnhardt has really put the “Little” in “Little E” the past two races, finishing 43rd each time to fall to 11th place. He hasn’t exactly lit up Indy, either, with an average result of 21.5 in six appearances. Earnhardt might not even make the Chase, so why bet on him at these short odds?
Jeff Gordon (+700): Gordon’s futility last year seems to be well in his rear-view mirror now. The four-time Cup champion picked up two victories in his last five races to vault into ninth place in the standings. His previous success at Indy should further cement a Chase position. The question is whether Gordon is still too much of a public favorite – these relatively short odds suggest so.
Field (+500): The field is usually the last place you go to find a winner in NASCAR, a sport dominated by a small handful of powerful teams. But this year’s field includes a certain rookie sensation you may have heard of: Denny Hamlin. By winning the Pennsylvania 500 to complete the Pocono double, Hamlin jumped up to eighth place in the standings. He’s also placed in the Top 10 seven times in his last 12 races, finishing no worse than 17th in the other events. That consistency should get Hamlin all the way into the Chase – then, watch out. Joe Gibbs Racing has been on fire, with Hamlin and teammate Tony Stewart (+700) both expected to excel at Indy. The field also includes Jeff Burton of Richard Childress Racing, currently in third place in the standings after collecting 14 Top-10 results, second only to Johnson’s 16. Why pay +500 for Kenseth when you can get two for the price of one?
