2011 Jeff Byrd 500 Undersdogs and Sleepers – Drivers to Bet On: When you put 43 cars on a half-mile track, anything can happen. Although unpredictability isn’t good news for bettors, it does create an opportunity for a surprise winner. Smart gamblers will capitalize and bet a dark horse or two because there’s nothing better than a huge pay day. Two potential drivers that could provide just that this weekend are Marcos Ambrose and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Ambrose has flexed his potential at the short tracks throughout his brief career. He has top-10 finishes in two of his four starts at both Bristol and Richmond, and led 40 laps at Martinsville last season before being wrecked by Jimmie Johnson. More importantly, his best career short track effort came at Bristol when he finished third in August of 2009. Next to road courses, short tracks are Ambrose’s best, and Bristol is his best short track. Yet despite all that, he is a 100/1 longshot.
If bettors weren’t already sold on Ambrose, his offseason move to Richard Petty Motorsports should seal the deal. He is behind the best equipment he has ever driven at the Cup level, and it showed two weeks ago at Las Vegas when Ambrose finished fourth. It was his first career top-five finish at a 1.5-mile track, and if he can run that well at one of his worst track types, imagine the possibilities at one of his best.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is by no means an under the radar driver, but his dismal performance the last two seasons have him a 22/1 longshot to win Sunday. Despite his overall struggles, he has actually continued to run well at Bristol. He is a former winner at the track and has 8.3 average finish since the start of the 2002 season is the best in the series. In other words, Junior is a driver that could be considered a favorite that is getting underdog odds.
Bettors should also be encouraged by Junior’s performance in 2011. He enters this weekend’s race coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes. He and new crew chief Steve Letarte appear to be clicking, which could pay huge dividends for Junior at one of his best tracks. If Junior does end his two and half year winless drought this weekend, betters should make sure to cash in as well.
Check out the opening Odds to Win the 2011 Jeff Byrd 500 presented by Food City this Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway.