2011 5-hour Energy 500 Expert Picks: Betting on Underdogs for Big Payoffs

2011 5-hour Energy 500 Expert Picks: Betting on Underdogs for Big Payoffs – How to Bet on the 2011 5-hour Energy 500: The 2011 season has been one of the most memorable in recent memory as far as surprise finishes go. Kevin Harvick has won three races despite only leading a combined nine laps. Trevor Bayne and Regan Smith each won their first career Cup race, and Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth have ended long winless droughts. Last weekend, Brad Keselowski used a fuel mileage gamble to win for just the second time in his Cup career. This weekend’s trip to Pocono Raceway could end to the upsets. The track is notorious for having fuel mileage finishes and race shortened by rain. If either a factor this weekend, another surprise face could end up in Victory Lane.

Despite some recent struggles, Juan Pablo Montoya still deserves heavy consideration as a potential upset winner this weekend, especially at 40/1 odds. After all, nobody questions his talent behind the wheel as one of the top all-around drivers in the series. He has delivered top-five finishes at every type of track on the schedule, he is one of the top road racers in the sport, and Montoya made the Chase as recently as 2009.

Sweetening the pot is the fact that he has enjoyed plenty of success at Pocono in recent years. Montoya has finished eighth or better in three of his last four starts, including a second-place effort tin 2009. Last August, he finished a disappointing 16th at the track, but it wasn’t because he had a bad car. Montoya was actually leading the race until a problem on pit road cost him a shot at the win. In other words, Montoya has been a contender at Pocono for the last two seasons, and that shouldn’t change this weekend.

At 40/1 odds, Brian Vickers may seem like a bit of reach this weekend, but writing him off could be a costly mistake. In 12 career starts at Pocono, he has finished in the top 15 eight times. On five occasions, Vickers has finished sixth or better at the track, including his most recent start.

It is easy to forget that Vickers made the Chase in his last full season in the Cup Series. He missed almost all of the 2010 season dealing with a potentially life-threatening heart condition. There is no question that the time off has put him behind his peers, and it is probably the main reason for his struggles in 2011. That being said, Pocono is a very unique track, and it is the type of track where some drivers always struggle. The time off shouldn’t affect Vickers as much at Pocono as it has at other tracks, which could mean a shot at the upset for Vickers.

View the most current 2011 5-hour Energy 500 Odds for the 2011 5-hour Energy 500 this sunday.