Nascar

Daytona 500 Odds

2008-02-12T09:22:00.000-08:00

The official start to the Sprint Cup season begins Sunday, Feb. 17 with the legendary Daytona 500, which is one of the most famous races in all of motor sports. The Daytona 500 is NASCAR's Super Bowl and an unprecedented event to race fans around the world.

NASCAR will celebrate its golden anniversary of the Daytona 500 with the 50th running of the prestigious race. It'll be a party at nearly 200 mph and you're invited to take part in the Sprint Cup betting action. BetUS NASCAR odds are giving respect to Hendrick Motorsports drivers who dominated last year by combining to win 18-of-36 races.

Following his Budweiser Shootout victory last weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr. became the favorite to win the Daytona 500 at +400 with teammates Jeff Gordon and defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson being oddsmakers second choice at +450.

Hendricks' duo of Johnson and Gordon ruled last year with Johnson taking the Sprint Cup championship. Hendrick drivers started last year's campaign by winning nine of the first 16 races and crushed the competition all season. The team becomes even stronger by adding Earnhardt Jr. who won the first race with his new team.

Earnhardt Jr. left DEI after failing to make last year's chase in a dismal season that yielded no victories and only five top-5's and 12 top-10 finishes. But now with Hendricks, those who bet on NASCAR should never over look his strength this season starting with the Daytona 500.

Last year, Kevin Harvick (+1500) took the checkers in the Daytona 500 to start the season off in money-making fashion for him and his investors. But for those who wager on NASCAR and invested in Hendrick Motorsports' drivers where the real winners throughout the season.

Will Hendricks swoop up the cash again this season? Or will Tony Stewart (+600) be a force in what's his first year in a Toyota? Find out Sunday as the green flag waves at 3:40pm EST for the Daytona 500 and the start of the Sprint Cup season.

The 2008 season is just days away and there's great odds and value on each driver weekly. Also, be sure to checkout our driver vs. driver matchups. The Daytona 500 is an American legendary race and a NASCAR betting spectacle.

-Robby Maddux

Budweiser Shootout

2008-02-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

The NASCAR betting nation's first event of the season is Saturday evening in this year's Budweiser Shootout, and it should come as no surprise Hendrick Motorsport's drivers have all the respect of oddsmakers.

Following a season owned by Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon at +375, Dale Earnhardt Jr. at +400 and Jimmie Johnson at +500 are atop the favorites list in the BetUS NASCAR odds.

Gordon is the favorite to win the Budweiser Shootout despite finishing

21st in this non-points event last year resulting in a DNF. Gordon put his No. 24 Chevrolet into Victory Lane six times in 2007 and collected 21 top-5's and 30 top-10 finishes. He finished second in points behind teammate Johnson but still is oddsmakers first choice to win Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

To make the race you must have won a pole position last year. Gordon had no problem doing that with a Sprint Cup series-best ten poles.

Hendrick Motorsports, who teamed to win 18-of-36 races last season, becomes even stronger with Earnhardt Jr. joining the gang. Even though he'll compete for the first time on Saturday in a Hendrick machine and is coming off a dismal 2007 with DEI, he's second choice on the odds list.

Last year, Earnhardt Jr. failed to win a race for the first time since his rookie season in 1999 in a Sprint Cup car. And for the second time in four years, he failed to make the Chase. He posted a weak seven top-5's, 12 top-10's, nine DNFs and barely got into this race with one pole win.

Fan favoritism will always shorten the price on Earnhardt Jr. and put him among the chalk on a regular basis, especially now following a highly publicized move to Hendrick Motorsports. But it's hard to grasp the concept he's favored over Johnson to win the shootout.

Despite raising the Cup last year, claiming a series-best ten wins, earning 20 top-5's and 24 top-10's, collected four poles and dominated the year Johnson is oddsmakers third selection to take the checkers in the Budweiser Shootout. The defending champion has to feel disrespected.

Any of the Hendrick Motorsport's drivers are capable of winning any race, any place and at anytime. For those who bet on NASCAR, get used to seeing these guys in the hip pocket of oddsmakers regularly.

While it's hard to bet against any of the Hendrick horses, from a gambler's stand point, it may be wise to let things play out a bit before investing too heavily in Earnhardt Jr. He will undoubtedly be in some of the best equipment on the track with Hendrick, but Earnhardt Jr. may need some time to adjust to his new team and surroundings.

If you are dead set on investing in a Hendrick Motorsport's driver for the Budweiser Shootout, Gordon or Johnson would be the strongest choices of the three. Now that it's narrowed down to Gordon or Johnson, who's the best bet? Johnson!

Until proven otherwise, Johnson is the undisputed Cup champion and there's no reason to think he can't begin this season in winning fashion. Being oddsmakers third choice, he will have a little something to prove to Gordon and the new kid on the block. As well, there's great value on him at +500.

Nascar Daytona Tickets- Stub Hub

2008-02-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

Daytona Poll Tickets- Nascar

2008-02-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

Nascar Daytona Tickets- Weekend Package

2008-02-07T08:12:00.000-08:00

Roush Fenway Racing #3 in 08?

2008-02-05T09:17:00.000-08:00

Of course Hendrick leads the way, but which team will be battling to pick up the scraps? Gibbs is a popular pick to lead the ssecond best Nascar team, but what about Roush?

Kenseth begins 2008 with a new crew chief, Chip Bolin, after his crew chief Robbie Reiser was promoted to GM at Roush Fenway Racing. The driver of the No. 17 entry, who posted the best 2007 points result of the Ford team, isn't too worried about the transition with either the new car or his new crew chief.

"(The car is) just different than what we've done before, but it'll be fine. It's still a stock car," Kenseth said of the car. "You're still trying to do all the same things to it, you're just trying to figure out how to do it better than everybody else. There are different areas you can work in and different areas you can't work in from before, but, overall, I don’t know if it's gonna make the racing that much different." -Rachel West

The other big name at Roush, Carl Edwards was the only driver, outside of Hendrick's operation, to capture multiple wins with the new car in 2007. He also gave Roush Fenway Racing it's highest average finish with the car - 13.9 in 16 starts.

"I'm looking forward to these cars because everyone is so close and I believe that it opens the opportunity for the drivers to be able to make a little bit bigger difference. I think that's gonna be a pretty good thing. Overall, I'm excited about these cars - more than I thought I would be. After running them I'm excited."

In pre-season testing, Edwards was the fastest Ford at both Las Vegas and California, while Kenseth was the fastest Ford in drafting at Daytona, and only Ford to be in the top 10 in drafting speeds.

Add in 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray and the talent of David Ragan. If things fall right for this squad they can compete with the big boys, but everything must line up.

Early Daytona Odds

2008-02-04T17:03:00.001-08:00

Daytona Odds

2008-02-03T21:11:00.001-08:00

Two weeks until Daytona gets fired up, so why not check out the Nascar Betting Odds and see if there are any opportunities to cash in. Odds are up for Daytona winner, Sprint Cup winner and Rookie of the Year.

Speaking of ROY, check out all the open wheel fags crossing over to NASCAR. Regan looks like a good play, he was the top non-Busch wacker last year and he's got the longest odds on the board.

Current Nascar Odds